Reflections on “The Relationship of Love, Joy, Peace!” April 9, 2024

That according to the riches of His glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19.

Have you ever wondered why Love is the first of the Spiritual Fruit named? But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23.

 The next question. Why are all the rest named the characteristics of the spirit of a person? But the hour is coming, and is now here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him.  God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”  John 4:23-24.

Ritual and a certain location are not needed, but a matter of the heart and our “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, obedience to what He commands, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” Exodus 15:11.

Psalm 19 teaches: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork…When I see towering mountains, the vastness of the ocean, the rocks of every size, I see God’s awesome creation. Why do we long to be in those places? We feel the Presence and Awe of God.

Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to Him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully on the strings with loud shouts. Psalm 33:1-3.

  When I read how God created man, and God is knitting us together in our Mother’s womb. For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:13-14.

Even before God created the world, He chose us! Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love, He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 3-6.

How often, growing up, when we pleased our parents, we felt joy in our hearts? It is no different from pleasing God. First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God, our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. I Timothy 2:1-4.

He cares for each one of us. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this, all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35.   

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7.

These verses pull together Joy and Peace. First, comes the Immense Love of God, which gives us Joy, then comes the glorious joy of Peace in our hearts and souls.

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16.

The Relationship between Love, Joy, and Peace is that without God’s Love first, we are nothing. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39.

That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19.