What is JOY?
JESUS
Matthew 22:37-38
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.
We are told to, ABOVE ALL ELSE, put the Lord first in our lives. Matthew says to “Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, ALL your soul, and with ALL your mind.” Everything we do MUST bring glory to God and show Him love. He needs to be our #1 priority.
OTHERS
John 15:12-13
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
Matthew 22:39
And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Matthew 20:28
Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Jesus lived a life focused on serving others, He was the greatest servant of all-no questions asked. Matthew 20:28 says, “…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” We want to live a life like Jesus did, doing all we can to serve others and put them before ourselves.
YOU
Matthew 22:39
And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
You are important and it's important that you take care of yourself while serving others. Matthew 22:39 tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves, meaning we can only extend to others the degree of love we have for ourselves. Take care of and grow yourself, then you will be able to grow your capacity to love others.