I was chatting recently with my friend Joel, and he reminded me of something I sometimes forget. I’m always encouraging people and pushing people and doing whatever I can to get them engaged in discipleship disciplines such as daily time with God and mission such as investing in others. I seem to live by Paul’s word to Timothy:

Reprove, rebuke, and exhort… (2 Timothy 4.2, ESV)

But Joel, as we were discussing the challenge of helping people in these areas, said simply:

If they only knew the joy of meeting with God every day and helping others do the same!

Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15.16, NKJV)

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (3 John, verse 4, NKJV)

The fruit of the Spirit is…joy… (Galatians 5.22)