DAILY DEVOTIONAL
| February 22 | ||
| He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. | ||
| John 3:29 | ||
| When John first
‘met’ Jesus, both were in their mothers' wombs. John leapt
for joy when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, entered the room (Luke 1:41).
And again in our text, at the zenith of his ministry, John still finds
his joy in the sound of Jesus’ voice. To explain the reason for
his ministry and the basis for his joy, John used an analogy very
familiar to his disciples. You see, wedding custom in John’s day
dictated it was the best man, the ‘friend of the
bridegroom’, who invited the guests to the wedding, made
preparations for the wedding, and finally, upon completion of the
wedding, escorted the bride and groom into the bridal chamber. Thus, it was the voice of the bridegroom, signaling to him that everything was OK within the chamber, which brought joy to the heart of the best man. Do you know when joy is fulfilled? It is not when we get something from the Lord, or do something for the Lord, but when we hear the voice of the Lord. If you are expecting your joy to be fulfilled through a nicer husband, faster car, or better job, you are headed for disaster. If you are caught up in thinking, ‘If I can move to this place, teach that Bible study, or sing with the other worship team; if I can just be effective here, or used there, then I will be joyful’ — you are headed for despair and disillusion. But if you spend time with the Lord, reading His Word, and simply listening for His voice — like John, your joy will be fulfilled. If you are a baby Christian like John in the womb, you will leap for joy at the sound of His voice. And if you are a seasoned saint like John in the desert, your joy will be full when you realize that what you longed for all along is found in Him. |
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| This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Days Journey" by Pastor Jon Courson. "A Days Journey" is a collection of 365 short devotions from the New Testament. If you would like your own copy of "A Days Journey" you may click here to go to the SearchLight Store |
NKJV
Rom 12:1-2"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
COMMUNITY
Acts 2:46-47"So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."