“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” (John 15:11 NASB)
This is certainly what Bonita and I saw when we visited the first service in the new worship center at Second Baptist North a week ago … Full.On.Joy! Not only were we witnessing JOY, but a renewal of excitement.
There is something about having something new, something untarnished, something untainted that seems to give us the motivation and the excitement to reexamine the way that we handle its “newness.” It is sometimes a new start, sometimes a redirection, sometimes a clean, clear path; but, in its new state … maybe polished, repaired, or rebuilt … it becomes a “treasure” again . . . something of value. Excitement sets in.
There are so many scriptures that point us to the “newness” of the life in Christ:
“Sing to Him a new song.” (Psalms 33:3a NASB)
“And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them.” (Ezekiel 11:19a NASB)
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34 NASB)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB)
I wanted my new feeling that Sunday, in that new building, to last forever. I was so sad when the service ended. The excitement of that new day should be repeated every time we worship The Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. HE deserves our personal newest and best, whether in a new building or old, and in giving Him our best, we can truly encounter His Full On Joy!
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 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 so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” (John 15:7-11 NASB)
Continue the celebration at the North Campus of Second Baptist Church, every Sunday through January and February. Feel free to check it out further by clicking HERE.