This post continues my discussion of the nine characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit. Paul mentions joy second.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23, NASB.)
The Free Dictionary defines joy as: (1) a feeling or state of great delight or happiness; keen pleasure; elation; (2) a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; (3) the expression or display of glad feeling; gaiety.
It sounds to me like joy means happiness. I used to think Christian joy didn’t have anything to do with feelings, because I heard other Christians say so. This didn’t really ring true with me, because there were (and still are) times I felt so happy and was moved to tears for the gladness in me, like when I listen to the words of a hymn or song, or take up my guitar and sing to the Lord, contemplate a cross, share a meal with good friends, or watch a sunset from the porch with my wife. I may have trials at the time, but they don’t prohibit my elation when I focus on these good things.
So, as per the title to this post, what do canaries have to do with a Christian? When I feel the song in my heart waning, I take it as a warning: something’s wrong in my relationship with Christ, and I need to take note.
Coal miners used to bring canaries into the coal mines, because they knew toxic gases like carbon monoxide could asphyxiate them, and methane could cause massive explosions. Canaries are especially sensitive to these gases, and so the miners watched the birds, and if they stopped singing and fell to the floor of their cages, the miners knew to escape to fresh air.
In the same way, I believe loss of joy presents a warning for the Christian. Loss of joy is one of the first signs telling you to assess your walk with God and His Word.
Jesus said, “If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full” (John 15:10-11, NASB.)
Billy Sunday said, “If you have no joy in your religion, there’s a leak in your Christianity somewhere.” When my joy fades, I need to ask the Holy Spirit to help me find the leak.
Christopher J. H. Wright, in his wonderful book, Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit, writes, “What brings you joy? What makes your eyes sparkle? What makes your heart leap up and down? What gives you a glow of pleasure and makes you smile, laugh, or whoop out loud and throw your arms up in the air for joy and want to hug everybody around you?” (p. 38.)
This describes exactly what I once felt at a Christian camp; I felt beaten down and emptied, and I prayerfully entered the weekend asking God to restore me. I remember the last evening, in a circle of about fifty participants, all holding hands and praying, and the Spirit moved me, and I let go of the pain. That night I was so filled with joy I wanted to run through the camp “whoop out loud and throw my arms up in the air for joy and hug everybody around me,” and shout praises to God!
Yes, I felt happy, a joy I could only experience and not explain, other than I knew it was from God. I’ve felt this way other times, as God has blessed me with His grace and mercy.
I believe Christian joy is both something you feel, and supernatural from the Spirit, as He indwells every Christian and works to change us into Christlikeness. Worldly happiness is an emotion that is based on worldly things, and so it comes and goes, like a wisp of air.
“That’s why joy, Christian joy as a fruit of the Spirit, is not just an emotion, but flows from the exercise in our minds and wills, of faith in God’s promises in Christ” (C. J. H. Wright, Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit-Growing in Christlikeness, p. 51.)
The Apostle Paul put it this way, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:4-8, NASB.)
This brings me back to the canary: joy.
Jesus said, “Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one is going to take your joy away from you” (John 16:22, NASB.)
This past year, we’ve experienced plenty of things that can draw our eyes away from Jesus, and joy seems in short supply, but Christians do have a source of joy despite circumstances. Whenever I get down about things, I pray to Jesus, read His Word, and remember the wonderful saving work He has done for me on the cross.
I keep a close eye on my canary, my joy, and if he stops singing, it’s time to get on my knees and give thanks, because there may be a leak in my joy, the “toxic gases” of sin, not reading the Bible, and despair will sneak up on me.
The chorus from an old hymn tells us, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of this earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace” (Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, by Helen H. Lemmel.)
May your canary sing and be merry!
Selah.