Is There a Difference?

~~~ Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21 ~~~ Psalm 59 ~~~ Matthew 13:44-46 ~~~

...out of joy... 

When was the last time you did something purely out of joy?

Have you ever done something just out of joy?

What would you do out of joy?

Is there anything worth doing out of joy.

Is joy a good reason to do something?

Is it possible to take the joy out of living?

In the last few days a YouTube video went viral of a little dog.

The dog nearly passes out from the sheer joy of being reunited 

with his owner who was away for two years. 

If out of joy our pets can show such 'emotion';

then it is reasonable for someone to sell everything

 just to possess the buried treasure. 

When I found your words, I devoured them;
they became my joy and the happiness of my heart...

It has been reported that 'happiness' appears in the Bible about thirty times,
but 'joy' or rejoice appear some three hundred times.
Is there a difference? Why would joy be used more often in Scripture?

Jeremiah says the very words spoken by the Lord
 became his joy and happiness.
He brought both words together into the same sentence.
If they were not different why would he use both words?

...in joy....with joy...for joy...

Even if you are considered to be a happy person
 are you also a joyful person?

Paul says in his letter to the Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice. 

What are you willing to give up for the Lord?
It takes something more valuable than money for the God.
It is not money that the Lord desires from you.
He longs for you to experience joy...his joy...the joy that comes
from a close relationship with him.

Jesus is your treasure.
Joy is what sets apart those who are claim to be Christian.
Are you willing to give up whatever it takes to have him in your life?

Happiness is influenced and generated by outside
circumstances and situations.

Happiness comes with those rose
colored glasses you have often heard about.

Joy is so much more than what is going on in the world around us.

Joy comes from the inside; it is not influenced by the outside.
Joy is what keeps the pearl of great price real.
The treasure is Jesus; Jesus is the joy
we long for in our heart.

Joy is constant.
Joy is not subject to the roller coaster of daily life.

Joy is one of the fruit of the Spirit.
Joy is a precious gift for the heart from God.
Joy is not tangible. Joy is evident in how we live our life.

Consider it all joy.
James 1:2

This truly is what our heart desires.
It comes as long as we are in relationship with the Lord.
He is the source...the treasure...the pearl.

May you be blessed with true joy...
~~~Peace~~~