Joy is an everlasting gift that Jesus gave His disciples then, which includes us. Read the verses and note the condition. John 14:10-11 says, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”

Have you ever wondered what happened to your joy? We cover it over with our worries, anxieties, and assumptions. Abiding in His love is the fruit of obeying His word. Disobedience is sin and it breaks our fellowship with the Lord.

1 John 1:6 is a checkpoint verse for us. It says, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” Is what we say evidenced in our words and actions?

1 John 2:6 reiterates that, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” How did Jesus walk? John 5:19 says, “…Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself…” What does John 15:5 say to us? It says, “…without Me you can do nothing.” Nothing is translated as ‘not one thing.’

Psalm 16:11 says, “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” As we abide in His word and obey it, we embrace the joy of intimate communion with Him.