Dwell – Day 23
Have you ever run a race or competed in some other sports challenge? I am far from an athlete but my kids love to have races and all kinds of challenges with me – they love to gleefully announce “I won” and come out with their own rendition of the champion song. They equate that momentary high of winning with joy.
When I’m in a race with them, it’s easy (okay, let’s be honest, they’re getting real fast for me the older they get!) so maybe not as easy but at least enjoyable. The races I more often face are the races of life – keeping up with my never ending to do list, my house that never stays clean, and that I’m the mom and everyone still expects dinner each night! I don’t find as much joy in the mundane tasks that never have that champion end song and a victory dance moment.
In the race if my to do list tasks I’m constantly thinking the prize that will bring me joy is having time for self-care and that time to take care of me and do things I enjoy will bring me complete joy and fulfillment. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy some self-care! Give me all the Starbucks trips, time for mindless social media scrolling, and mom group chats, but that will only give me a momentary glimpse of happiness or joy. If I place my joy in things of this world it will never truly fulfill me or bring everlasting joy. That type of joy can only be found in Jesus.
Matthew 16:24-27
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.”
There is nothing in this world that will match the joy we can find in Jesus. In fact, in Matthew 16 we see the reward for a job well done will be in heaven. When we take time for the to do list tasks or take time to serve the kingdom of God, we get time to serve Jesus and ultimately find that everlasting, fulfilling joy in Jesus.
John 15:11
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
Because of Jesus I can find everlasting, fulfilling joy in Him!