These things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 1 John 1:4
John had a big task; he was under the direction of the Holy Spirit as he sat with writing instrument in hand to draft a portion of the Word of God. In doing so, he was undoubtedly excited about the fact that what he was about to write would contribute greatly to the joy of the readers. If you could write something, knowing that it would bring great joy to your readers, what do you think you would write?
First, it would need to be good news; that always brings joy. If you were writing about the things that are going on in the world around us, there would be more discouraging news than good news. How about a Gospel tract? A short message written about the love of a God in Heaven who longs that a world of sinners and rebels would be saved and who sent His own Son to pay the penalty for our sins. That would be good news, if you could get folks to read it. Bob Price did that. He wrote several interesting and insightful Gospel tracts, and the last one that he wrote was handed out to everybody who attended his funeral, so that ‘he being dead yet speaketh’. Bob’s tracts had the ability to bring joy to those who read them.
We are not all writers, though. And God doesn’t expect us all to be. But there is something that you can write that can bring joy to many. You can write a life of obedience to God and of service to those around you. By showing a Christ-like spirit of kindness, caring, and giving, of faithfulness to the Saviour who has redeemed you, you can write joy on every heart that you encounter. You can witness by your life the love of God, and proclaim by your joyfulness that Salvation is to be desired. Remember, dear child of God, you are often the only Bible that some people will read. And they read you every day, watching what you do and say. Your faithfulness can be a big part in bringing them into the joy of God’s salvation.
You can write that which brings joy simply by being the kind of Christian that you ought to be. Write joy today. -Jim MacIntosh