Joy of the King
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking
but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
For lowly man, God reserves alone that which no ruler or power in the spiritual realm can taste or see.
For contrite man, God reserves alone that which neither holy seraph nor cherub can proclaim.
For repentant man, God reserves alone that which the world cannot hold or behold.
For redeemed man, God reserves alone that which man, on his own, cannot know.
And what has God reserved for you, the contrite, the repentant, the redeemed?
The Power of God.
To repent.
To trust.
To love your unseen King.
To take hold of your salvation with inexpressible joy.
Just as it is written:
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him,
you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Such power unto eternal life, you redeemed alone taste, see, proclaim, hold, behold, and inextricably know in your inner souls.
Oh, what joy God reserves solely for the redeemed!
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you,
and that your joy may be full.”
Redeemed souls from every tribe and nation, more numerous than stars of the sky or sand of the sea, know and will forever know the joy of redemption.
Neither unregenerate mind, nor world, nor invisible power in the spiritual realm can experience or know the joy of the redeemed.
Yet, there is Another that also knows redemption’s joy.
Not from the stance of a sinner redeemed. No, not as One that was, is, or ever will be redeemed.
Rather, this One knows redemption’s joy from the stance of the One Who redeemed!
And only He knows and will ever know the full joy reserved for the One Who redeemed!
And Who is this One Who redeemed?
The King of Glory. (Psalm 24 (ESV))
God’s Anointed God. (Psalm 45:7 (ESV))
Jesus Christ, The Redeemer of the redeemed. (Galatians 3:13-14 (ESV))
Christ, the Redeemer, redeemed you and me for the joy set before Him, as it is written:
Therefore,. . . let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
And what was the joy set before our King with which He endured the cross?
Immeasurable delight that flows from His union with the Father, and through Him (Christ), Their union with you and me, His redeemed.
The joy of the redeemed, when united by the power of God with the joy of the Redeemer, is the very joy of His Kingdom come for you and me!
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking
but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
This is your inheritance and calling, you redeemed: joyous union with God!
So, rejoice in your redemption and delight in your Redeemer. This gives great joy and delight to your Redeemer, in Whose joy and delight you can know great love for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and know the Triune God’s great love for you, the redeemed!
“I do not ask on behalf of these alone,
but for those also who believe in Me through their word;
that they may all be one;
even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You,
that they also may be in Us,
so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
The glory which You have given Me I have given to them,
that they may be one,
just as We are one; I in them and You in Me,
that they may be perfected in unity,
so that the world may know that You sent Me,
and loved them,
even as You have loved Me.
Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me,
be with Me where I am,
so that they may see My glory which You have given Me,
for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
O righteous Father,
although the world has not known You,
yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me;
and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known,
so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them,
and I in them.”