For Complete Joy

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.
- 1 John 1:1-4
 
Can you key in on that last phrase? “We write this to make our joy complete.” To have any joy is a blessing; to have complete joy is a dream come true.
 
We do so much in our search for joy – celebrations, diets, vacations, worship, gardening, laundry – but often have this sense that there’s more joy out there for us, that there’s something missing. John knew this feeling.
 
Here’s a man who knew Jesus, touched him, saw him, and heard him. Here’s a man who has fellowship with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Here’s a man who is a part of a meaningful missional community (note how often he uses plural pronouns in today’s text). But his joy isn’t complete until he writes this. Why is that?
 
Perhaps he’s a writer and his bones burn inside him unless he writes. Perhaps he writes like he’s running out of time. Perhaps his passion isn’t complete until it’s expressed. He could be an artist.
 
Perhaps he feels a burden for the brokenness and isolation in the world. Perhaps he sees people wandering around, bereft of life. Perhaps he hears the restless longings we all wrestle with and knows that Jesus has something – is someone – who can satisfy us. He could be a prophet.
 
Perhaps he loves Jesus. Perhaps he believes that Jesus is worthy of our worship and adoration. Perhaps he saw or heard or touched something that changed him and moved him and included him and he just can’t settle until the people he cares about have a meaningful opportunity to join this fellowship. He could be a pastor.
 
Proclaiming the good news about Jesus Christ completes our joy. It satisfies some need deep within us. It terrifies and blesses us. And it can change the world.
 
Who can you talk to about Jesus today? Would you ask him to give you opportunities to talk about him in winsome and gentle and meaningful ways? What will you do if he opens a door for you to witness?

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