The Joy You Do

Friday, September 17, 2021

Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, was the last and in many ways the greatest of Israel's celebrations. In Deuteronomy 16, God commands His people to celebrate it in this way, "You will be altogether joyful." You might think that you'll find joy by getting something that you desire - a new job, a new person, or a new circumstance, but in the original Hebrew, it doesn't say get this so joy can happen to you. It says, "You Will Rejoice." For the child of God, joy is a verb before it is a noun. It's not something you wait for to happen to you. It's something you choose. Joy is a command. Therefore, a surrender. But true joy doesn't happen without your consent. You can either obey it or not. We are told to rejoice in the Lord always. God doesn't want you wasting your life trying to get things you hope will give you joy. You can get joy right now, directly from the source. Surrender your conditions for joy and rejoice wherever you are - rejoice in the Lord now.

From Message #565 - The Last Joy