When something great happens in our life we usually want to tell others all about it. We buy a new car and we can't wait to show it to our friends. We get a great new job and we are excited to tell others. We or one of our family members reaches a new milestone in life and we want to announce it to all. However, none of these shared experiences become the experience of the person with whom we are sharing. And eventually when we have shared them with everyone we can think of they become old news and we don't even bother to talk about them anymore.
There is something that never runs out no matter how often we share it with others. That is joy. What is joy? Some children were asked that question with interesting results. One child responded that joy is what Mom uses to do the dishes. Another said that Joy is his brother's girlfriend. But real joy is the result of an ongoing relationship. Other kinds of joy may be caused by temporary successes, events and circumstances, but they have an end. The joy of a relationship is ongoing and increases rather than decreases with time.
Of course the greatest joy creating relationship is with our God. In Psalm 16:11 the Bible indicates "You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." If we want joy that never runs out, we must have that relationship. When we do the inner joy that results will radiate out to others. They will benefit and we will continue and increase in our own joy. Someone once said that when our upward relationship is right then our outward relationships will be right as well. Try God's joy today.
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