Complete Joy

Complete joy!

9 As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. 12 This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. 13 [a]No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends,[b] because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. 16 It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. 17 This I command you: love one another.-John15:9-17

If we want a joy that is complete, we have to be open and receptive to the joy of Christ. To receive the joy of Christ, one must remain in His love. To remain in His love, one must keep His commandments - which is still about Love. Is there really such a thing as joy that is complete? I say, "Yes!" Jesus Himself said, 'I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.' To stay in Jesus' love and to keep His commandments also mean doing the will of God. The will of God can also be in the smallest of all actions i.e. being kind to our employees.

Handling Truth

The Spirit of Truth will guide us to the Truth.

12 “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. 13 [a]But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. 15 Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.-John16:12-15

Life is really full of mysteries. We cannot understand why some things happen such as a sudden death to somebody so young, or a failed dream for somebody so promising. We ask God, "Why?" And yes, God answers. But can we handle the truth? Can we really handle all truths? If the truth may be so overpowering, God has sent the Spirit to guide us through it. Truth, no matter how helpful or menacing it may be, will always be beneficial if we allow the Spirit to guide us through it.

Advocate

The Advocate comes.

5 But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me,[a] ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. 7 But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 [b]And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: 9 sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; 11 condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.-John16:5-11

Yes, it is hard to say goodbye. However, there is more to all relationships than having physical contact. Jesus is saying goodbye to His disciples. Jesus leaves, only to come back again through the Holy Spirit. What is better - to be with Jesus in flesh, or to be with Him in spirit? If Jesus is here in the flesh, He would be subject to the limits of the flesh which is contrary to His true nature. How can He be with all of us - billions of people? In Spirit, Jesus becomes one with us 24/7. He is with me, as He is with you. Actually, since we are a spirited body or a bodied spirit, we can sense Him as clear as though He is in flesh as if He is before us. The question is, are we open to the Spirit?

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Spirit + Body

Where did we come from?

31 The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven [is above all]. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy. 34 For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift[a] of the Spirit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.-John3:31-36

Some say that each person is gifted with a body and a spirit. The wisdom evolved. They say we have a spirited body, meaning - a body with a spirit. Then the wisdom still evolved. They say we have a bodied spirit, meaning - a spirit with a body. With these premises, we acknowledge that before we are born, a Mighty Hand was behind our creation. Whether we were created as a spirit first or a body first, one thing is certain, God has given us both body and spirit. Therefore, we are never created primarily to be earthly beings. Rather, beings on a pilgrimage here on earth. It is so sad that the path to our true Home - Jesus Himself - is so taken for granted or twisted to satisfy our earthly needs. But all is not lost for Jesus never gives up to search and find His sheep.

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