Joy in Our Hearts: A Flag that Signifies God’s Presence

The Bible says that we are a temple of God. As God’s temple, we should display God’s presence among us by living a life full of joy. Our joyful hearts are like a flag that signifies the presence of God in us. Let us learn the reasons why we must wave the flag of joy as God’s people.

A national flag is essential for most countries. It is the symbol of their land and people. In the Olympics, you will only recognize what country the player represents by the flag he or she carries. A flag serves as a great tool to signify what you stand for; it can be a community, an organization, or a nation.

While living a life of faith, we can easily discern that our hearts are thankful to God if we keep His commands with joy. Our joy serves as a flag which signifies that God is with us. Therefore, the Bible tells us to always rejoice in God.

The Love of God Is the Reason for Our Joy

There are several reasons people find joyful; having a sip of coffee in the morning, sunny weather, or spending time with loved ones.

As a people of God, we should always find joy even in trivial things. Every situation we are in can be an object of joy as God commanded us to rejoice always and give thanks in all circumstances.

1 Thessalonians 5:14-22 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.

Christians ought to follow the will of God absolutely. Aside from the Passover, Sabbath, and other regulations, God also wants us to rejoice always. God is giving us salvation that every person desires to receive. The primary reason we should always be joyful is that God so loved us that He did not even hesitate to sacrifice His life for us.

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Countless thanks would not be enough for the endless blessings God is giving us. Therefore, we should fully fill our hearts with gratitude and joy. Grumble and complaints are a flag that the people of God do not carry. Realizing the love of God, we should always give thanks in any circumstance, remembering His immense care and love for us.

Habakkuk 3:16-18 I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Is there a person who wants to be weak and poor? If there are no grapes on the vines and the fields produce no food and no cattle in the stalls, people of this world will likely complain. However, it is different for God’s people. Joy and gratitude flowers in the hearts of the people of God even in difficult situations because they know that difficulties will lead them to heaven.

Let us not forget the fact that God is with us. When we forget the love of God, joy disappears and our hearts will be filled with grumbling and complaints. As true Christians, let us raise a flag of joy as a sign that God is in us.

The Blessing of Refinement

The sunshine is more radiant after a gloomy day. Likewise, we will realize the full value of peaceful joy after trials and tribulations. God allows us to know the joy of going to the kingdom of heaven through the pain that we experience while walking the path of the gospel; the joy of being in good health when we experience the pain of diseases, and the joy of eternal life through the suffering of death. When we realize that the pain and hardships we encounter are the will of God to bless us more, we will be joyful and grateful in all circumstances.

Romans 8:16-18 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Only with God can we find joy in suffering. The temporary sufferings we come up against on this earth are not worth comparing with the eternal glory that will be revealed to us. Moreover, if we measure our present suffering against the pain and sacrifice of God, it is nothing. When we always think of the extreme love and sacrifice of God that He suffered on the cross and even endured the pain of death, the flag of joy and gratitude in our hearts will gracefully wave.

If we open our spiritual eyes and look beyond the difficulties and obstacles we face while walking in the desert of faith, we come to realize that everything is an object of thanksgiving. Just as a diamond is obtained after enduring extreme pressure, God sometimes refines us through enduring agony and pain. A diamond’s sparkle is the outcome of its endurance. In the same way, we must endure the process of being refined and be born again as perfect beings who are worthy to inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Worthy Christian

God greatly loves us. Thus, He suffered and sacrificed for our salvation. Although we think about how we can repay God for His love and grace we, weak mortals, can’t do anything special for Him. Nevertheless, the best way for us to repay God is to quickly find heavenly family members and to be born again.

Colossians 3:1-10 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

The Bible tells us that we should pursue and desire the things above and put on the new self in God. We should display God’s glory through our good deeds and beautiful attitude.

Ephesians 5:1-17 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.  But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

We have received profound love and blessings from God Elohim. Those whom God granted the right to become Their children are thankful and joyful. Let us follow the command of God to rejoice always, give thanks in all circumstances, and beautifully wave the flag of joy that indicates the existence of God in us.