Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.”
Jesus Gets Me
I was reading my morning devotional and was overcome with joy. The message was how Jesus sees right through me into the very depths of my being. It was as if Jesus was talking directly to me, and I felt loved and understood. I know Jesus feels like that about all of us. Even though I am not perfect, it doesn’t matter. Jesus is still working on helping me mature, learn, and grow in our relationship. I have known this in my head and even my heart for years, yet this morning it gave me joy on a deeper level.
Rejoice with Others
I tried to share this joy with others. I did get one Amen from someone who understood that we are told to rejoice with those who rejoice. I had a second person who simply praised God. However, I was surprised by how most people tried to use what I was saying as a teaching moment for me or said something that sounded arrogant and self-focused. I realized that many of us do not understand how to rejoice with others. It is so simple. We simply praise God and recognize the blessing. The person who simply said, “Amen,” did rejoice with me. The person who praised God rejoiced with me. Everyone else was self-focused or seemed obligated to improve my experience.
I am Guilty and Forgiven
I have to confess; I also remember times in the past when I did not simply rejoice with the person who was sharing their joy. Jesus helped me see that I am also guilty of not simply rejoicing with others. There have been times when I did the same things to others as had been done to me. I felt I needed to be forgiven, and I asked Jesus to teach me to do better. I also felt I needed to forgive those who did not rejoice with me. I now understand, they did not know what they were doing any more than I did. I pray Jesus will especially bless those I failed to rejoice with properly. No matter how old we are or how close we are to Jesus, there is always room for a deeper understanding through Jesus Christ.
Joy in Jesus
I wanted to share my joy, but I could not do so the way I wanted. Jesus helped me understand that this type of joy can only come through Him. I cannot share it with someone else. I cannot make them understand what I experienced, no matter what I say or how hard I try to communicate it. As I read the Devotional Scripture that had blessed me on other days, I was blessed as if it were new Scripture being planted in my soul for the first time. I knew this Scripture was meant to be spoken to me on a deeper level. The words and understanding were not new; however, the depth to which they were rooted in my soul was new. We can try to share the joy we get with others, and they can rejoice with us, but they can only receive that joy through Christ Jesus. So let us pray that the gifts Jesus gives us, which we long to share, will also be given to others. Then we can truly share in the joy of Jesus, through Jesus.
My Prayer for You
Lord Jesus, please open the ears of every believer to hear You speak words of love and assurances to them today. Please, give them a deeper sense of Joy in You today. Help me learn to simply rejoice with others better. Jesus, take something we think we know and plant it deeper in our souls, minds, and hearts. Please help us learn to simply rejoice with those who rejoice in the LORD. Thank You, Jesus, that You can take our prayers and share our joy with others through You. Amen.
Scripture Truths
1 Samuel 16: 7b “for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
Romans 8: 38-39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”