Fellowship of Joy

What we have seen and heard, we also declare to you, so that you may have fellowship along with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 1 John 1:3-4 HCSB

Joy is not in things. It is in us. Richard Wagner*

There’s an older man I know who always greets me by saying, “The Christ who lives in me greets the Christ who lives in you.” I once asked him what he meant by his unusual greeting. He told me something like this:

“When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, he limited Himself to living within the confines of one human body. His life exemplified the presence of God. After Jesus was crucified and resurrected, He was no longer limited by His body. Instead, He lives within each of His followers, everywhere, all the time. Therefore, the presence of Christ is constantly working in and through each of us. We are His body and His presence makes our joy complete.”

Lord, thank You for the joy that comes from our fellowship with You and with each other.

*thinkexist.com