A Little Joke - a Lot of Joy

Sunday - May 15th

Today's Scripture to Read: John 15:9-11

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If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

John 15:10-11

In 2020, when the spring warmth arrived in his town of Saanich, British Colombia, 6-year-old Callaghan McLaughlin planned to open a Lemonade Stand. With the nation of Canada in lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Callaghan decided to set up something other than a lemonade stand. Instead of selling lemonade to make a few dollars, he decided to give away jokes to lift a few spirits.

He set up the stand at the end of his driveway and to respect social distancing guidelines, his "customers" pulled up and rolled down the car window or walked up and stood back 6 feet to hear a joke. Callaghan's mother gave him a joke book six months earlier. The jokes he shared from it involve simple first-grade-level humor (click here to hear him share a few). But, his neighbors loved it. They say the young boy accomplished what he hoped to accomplish. They found his little jokes did lift their spirits—several neighbors drove-by or walked-up more than once a day. 

A smile during the heaviness of a global pandemic can lift people for a season, but Jesus promises His followers a joy that will last forever. As He shared final words with His disciples in what students of the Bible refer to as the Upper Room Discourse, Jesus told them of this eternal joy. In John 15:9-11, He said that as they love Him, they will obey His commands. As they walk in obedience, Jesus promised they would have a satisfying joy. That satisfying joy would be a full, complete joy. It would not be fleeting happiness. It would not be temporary, but would be eternal.

The same promise extends to us today. As we love Jesus and obey Him, He fills us with a joy that will fall short of nothing. Many of us say we love Jesus, but we fail to walk in obedience to His Word. Why should we be surprised that we lack joy as we disobey Him? Jesus said it plainly and clearly. Love me. Obey me. Then, you will experience my full joy!

Walking in a loving, obedient relationship with Christ gives more than a simple smile; it brings complete joy!