11/24/20 That My Joy May be Full

READING: Ezra 3-4, Psalm 92, 1 John 1

I remember when I learned that my father, for whom we had prayed for 36 years, gave his life to Jesus. The new was almost unbelievable after praying that long, but a quick conversation with my brother (who was with my dad)  and then with my dad gave evidence of something dramatic happening in his life. In the days and few years that followed before my dad’s passing, there was no denying that God had changed his heart. The transformation was amazing. 

The first thing I did that night was call a bunch of friends and colleagues to tell them about my dad’s conversion. I had even talked with some of them for some time, but that didn’t matter to me – my heart was overflowing with joy, and I wanted others to know what God had graciously done. When others shared that joy with me, my joy only increased. Little could have dampened my heart the next few days. 

I think of that story as I read 1 John 1 today, where John shared the gospel with others and longed for them to have fellowship with him through fellowship first with God. That fellowship was much more than eating a feast together, though; it was genuinely sharing life as members of God’s family all united under the work of Christ. Indeed, John’s joy would be complete as others followed Christ, too. That’s how I’m praying for other unsaved family and friends today: that they would have fellowship with God, and God might increase my joy when they do. 

PRAYER: “God, grant me the joy of someone I love turning to You today. Please, God.”     

TOMORROW’S READING:  Haggai; Zechariah 1; Ps 138; 1 John 2

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