Devotion Archive

Week of April 26, 2010

Are you full yet?  I hope you are.  I hope that today you are stuffed.  That is, stuffed and full of what the disciples were full of in Acts 13:52: “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

They were full of joy and the Holy Spirit.  Why?  Because they had just had an excellent and awesome day at the office and everybody liked them?  No.  In fact, they had just been kicked out of a city and a region for speaking about Jesus.  Because they had great bank accounts and a lot in their 401(K)s?  No.  Elsewhere Paul speaks of first hand experience in having nothing (2 Corinthians 6:10). Because they had stellar health and tapped into the power of positive thinking?  No.  Paul also speaks of great pressures in his life beyond his ability to endure, so that he despaired even of life (2 Corinthians 1:8).  Because they had finally conquered all of their sinful habits?  No, Paul describes himself as someone who is currently to be regarded as the worst of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).

So why were they filled with joy and the Holy Spirit?  Because God put it there as a result of his unchanging promises.  God worked through His powerful Word to fill their hearts with joy.  Joy is not the same as happiness.  It is not a mere feeling.  Joy is a knowledge and trust based on unchanging truth – the truth found in Scripture alone that no matter what happens in our earthly circumstances, our eternal God’s promises and love remain.  Joy doesn’t depend on or derive from the circumstances or emotions of your life.  It comes from the Holy Spirit working in your heart through His life-changing Word.  

Need more joy?  Go to the joy source.  Open up your Bible today.  Read a favorite passage or explore new territory.  Listen to your Savior’s words.  Let your focus turn off of yourself and your problems, and onto your God and His powerful promises.  And be filled with the joy that only He can give.

Getting filled up with you,

Pastor Jon Bergemann

Weekly Devotions are taken from Trinity's“Screenside Chat”, a weekly email devotion and newsletter from Pastor Bergemann designed to give you a spiritual boost from your Savior while keeping you connected to your Trinity family. 

Contact Pastor Jon Bergemann if you are interested in knowing more about Trinity Lutheran Church.

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