Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
During the Covid pandemic, the thermometer was a key item in checking ones physical health. The thermometer is used to measure the body’s temperature. An elevated body temperature indicates that the person is ill, specifically the presence of an infection. During the pandemic, the infection was likely viral and that means the infected person was contagious.
Is there a way to detect how one is doing spiritually? Can you take a person’s spiritual temperature to see if he or she is healthy spiritually, i.e. walking in the Spirit and pursing God and His kingdom? As Paul wraps up his letter to the Romans, he writes, “Now may the God of hope fill you all joy and peace as you believe in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” I think the presence of both peace and joy are good indicators that one is walking in the Spirit and actively pursuing God and His kingdom.( Of the two, joy is more easily seen by others whereas peace might take a bit longer to ascertain.)
Joy is a spiritual thermometer, telling us that we are spiritually healthy. Note that God does the filling. He fills us with joy (and peace) when we are actively trusting in Him with our eyes fixed on Jesus, striving for the prize of the upward call of Christ. As we are walking in faith, God gives us joy and peace. A by-product of walking in faith is that we are less enamored with earthly things, we let go of insisting on getting our way, and we cease to focus on the trials of life. Instead we focus first and foremost on Him, i.e. our relationship with Him. He is our joy. The greatest gift that He gave us is Himself. Nothing can separate us from this Gift. Therefore any changes in our health, our family, our job, our material possessions should not take away our joy. Joy cannot be taken away by circumstances. Because joy is anchored in God, it is wholly dependent on God. Living in this world is like swimming in a current of worries, trials, and temptations. If we are not actively walking in faith and in His Spirit, we will be carried by the currents of worries, fretting, and despair.
Of course, we do wander and take our eyes off God sometimes. When that happens, our joy will fade because we start to focus on the things of the world and our circumstances. As joy fades, worry grows. Just as joy indicates we are focused on God, worry indicates we are focused on the world and self, having taken our eyes off God.
As our relationship with God deepens, and our joy stems from that relationship, we are freed to focus on others and to love others. Having found joy in Christ, we no longer need to manufacture that happiness through material things, work, family, health, and appearance. Instead we are freed to pursue His kingdom. This reinforces taking up our cross and denying ourselves. Being satisfied in Christ we are freed from the natural desire to focus on self. Self love, self protection, and self preservation are natural in the fallen world.
We would do well to regularly check our spiritual temperature. “Do I have joy and peace now?” If not, what is taking away the joy and peace? Is there worry or despair? If so, why are am I worried and despairing?
Lord, by your grace and mercy, restore to me your joy and peace. Enable me to turn my eyes toward Jesus and find joy in Him. Amen.
Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come. 