Job 37:12-13 

12 The clouds churn about at his direction.

    They do whatever He commands throughout the earth.
13 He makes these things happen either to punish people
    or to show his unfailing love.

 

Can joy be given of God ... but not be of Him

Just because we love the feeling ... of just loving God?

Will we love Him then ... in every circumstance

Or is there no love present ... when we feel it not?

 

Perhaps that love is not of God ... but just of our own feelings

And such a feeling make us think ... that it is God Himself

There is a great distinction between God and the joy of God

And because of misinterpretation ... at times it is hard to tell

 

Not until a time of barren feelings ... shall the Holy Spirit show it

Can we forsake our God ... in favor of the joy He dispenses?

Should we delight in what He gives and separate it from God, the Giver?

It appears that this can be done ... but only through self-intent

 

We need to love God ... because of Who He is

And not for reasons ... that point to ourselves.

Our joy should be in God, Himself and such in every season

And not for the joy He gives ... for that may end up in peril

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

 

Love is not always joy ... possibly more the opposite

We never should esteem God’s gift higher than God

Pleasure is in God, Himself and not in joyful feelings

To live in Christ is everything and how we feel is not

 

Joy can become an idol ... a “half god” in our lives

A spirit of joy can be placed with a spirit of contentment

Deep within our inner man ... without Godliness inside

Which makes both deceivers ... products of enchantment

 

Jan Wienen