“But the fruit of the Spirit is… joy…” (Galatians 5:22)

We were using Matthew 12:33 as a foundation to build our devotionals on fruit bearing. Matthew 12:33 tells us to:

“Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.”

As a Child of God, bearing the right kind of fruit is very important. The fruit that the Child of God is to bear is the fruit of the Spirit. We talked about love being a fruit of the Spirit; and now we will move along to the next fruit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is… joy…” (Galatians 5:22). The Greek word for “joy” is “chara”; which means the emotional excitement, gladness, delight over blessings received or expected for self and for others.

The Bible has a lot to speak about when it comes to joy for the Child of God. The first reference of Scripture we will look at is Jeremiah 15:16:

“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.”

For every born-again believer, the Word of God should be a joy and rejoicing.

It is the Word of God that gives us life:

“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

It is the Word of God that sustains us.

There should be a joy in going to the House of God:

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” (Psalms 122:1)

Hebrews 10:25 tells us to not forsake, “…the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

We also understand that “the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10c). And “in thy presence is fulness of joy” (Psalms 16:11b).

It is the upright in heart that can shout for joy – (Psalms 32:11) “Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.”

There is a joy in heaven and a joy with the People of God over one sinner that repenteth:

“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” (Luke 15:10)

We are to finish our course with joy:

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24)

“…we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” (Romans 5:11)

This writer could go on talking about bearing the fruit of joy in the life of the Child of God. We are to bear good fruit – the fruit of the Spirit.