Blog Post
Posted by Dion Todd January 25th, 2025 1,056 Views 32 Comments
I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full. "This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you." John 15:11–12 WEB.
Peter and the other Apostles were preaching at the temple when they were arrested by the religious leaders in Jerusalem. They tried to put them in prison, but an angel let them out during the night. Early the next morning, the Apostles were again teaching at the temple. So they arrested them a second time, beat them, and told them not to talk about Jesus anymore.
When they let the Apostles go, they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus Christ and continued teaching (Acts 5:41). Later when Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned, they prayed and sang hymns to the Lord while the other prisoners listened to them (Acts 16:25).
There is a joy the Apostles had that surpasses all understanding, and no matter what you face on Earth, it can't be taken from you. However, it does have a requirement. Jesus taught that we could have this joy if we kept His commandments. Then in the next verse, He said, "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34). If we don't have love, we are nothing but noise like a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1). People don't care what you know until they know how much you care.
If we truly love one another in action, we will be filled with His joy. It makes sense that we can't be filled with joy and anger, bitterness, jealousy, and happiness all at the same time. We are commanded to love each other. The only choice we have is whether we will actually do it. We can easily choose to show no love and have no joy.
It is usually easy to love the Lord. After all, He is perfect, and God is love (1 John 4:16). The times we've had a disagreement always ended up with me having an attitude adjustment and seeing things through His eyes. Never once did He, for He was always right. Other people, though, ouch. He really made us work for that joy when He said to love your neighbor as yourself. That's not easy. Still, to have His joy, you must love that neighbor.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for the life that You have given me. Please give me the grace to love those around me and to keep a positive attitude. Overflow my heart with Your Joy today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Note: "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.” James 5:13 ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network. If you are interested in joining the prayer team, here is how to get started Prayer Partners.
Heavenly Father, This is a tough Devotional. God is Love and this world is full of anger. Father give me the Grace to Love! Anger can come easy if I let it! I want to be that Light of Hope, a Hope for Love. Flow through me Lord, your Love and Joy, so I can be that beacon. A beacon of Love and Joy. All things are possible through You, Lord. In your precious Name, Jesus, Amen!
I received a card yesterday from a sister in Christ here where I live. On the front cover are the words: "Joy is found in loving hearts." I may be her roommate as my almost 50-year-old present roommate has stressed me out quite a bit...not sure how long she has been my roommate. I was with Kristina in January of last year. My new roommate, if I get to be her roommate, is about my age and has been here about as long as I have been. She is a Christian. She has had losses like me, but she lost her mother and son last year. No wonder that she has had behavioral health issues.
Comment from Sylvia Todd
15 hours ago
Happy to hear from you, Nell, was wondering where you had been :)! Praying for you and your roommates 🙏!
Comment from Dan Remley
22 hours ago
Nell, I pray the Lord blesses you with peace in regards to your new roommate, and you both share many laughs and good times with each other ❤️
Good morning, everyone, praying you have a most blessed day 🌻! It is our daughter's birthday, so we're going to do a little celebration here today 💛!
Comment from Sylvia Todd
15 hours ago
Thank you all so much for the lovely birthday blessings for Summer - she was very happy to see them 💛!
Comment from Dan Remley
22 hours ago
Happy Birthday Summer. I hope you and pastor Dion enjoyed her day to the fullest. I hope our RHM family had a wonderful day ❤️
Comment from Liesel aka lisa Wardle
1 day ago
Thank you so much dear Sylvia!! Also, wishing Summer a very Happy Birthday filled with abundant blessings, health of all things and a successful completion of her studies and her teacher's certificate! 🎂🙏
Comment from Sherry Mccosh
1 day ago
Thank you Sylvia, I pray that you are Pastor Dion would also have a very blessed day today!!
Comment from Shara Abel
1 day ago
Happy Birthday Summer! I hope you all have a great time!! 🎂
Comment from Gloria Nebarez
1 day ago
Happy Birthday little one, have a great day.
Comment from Bella Colliander
1 day ago
Happy Birthday Summer. Enjoy your special day. Hugs🎂🕊️
Comment from Debi Burton
1 day ago
Good morning Everyone! 🌞
Happy Birthday Summer! Have a blessed day!
Comment from Lynn Brown
1 day ago
Good morning and Happy Birthday to Summer!🎂😊
Amen Good Morning Everyone 😀
Comment from Dan Remley
22 hours ago
Good morning Yvette. Have a great day ❤️
Post from Liesel aka lisa Wardle
1 day ago
AMen and Amen!!! Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for the life that You have given me!! Please give me the grace to love those around me and to always keep a positive attitude! Please over flow my heart with YOUR joy today, in the holy name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen!!
Lord, thank you for blessing me through my days. I use to have a temper in my younger days, but YOU have taught me to kill hate with love. To act the way you would. I have found so much peace through YOU. Keep speaking to me and help me spread nothing but love .Amen ❤️
Post from Scott Riegelmann
23 hours ago
Amen I really really enjoyed today's devotional thank you pastor Dion,God bless you and your family!
... And customer representatives on the phone!!! 😜
Amen!
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the life that You have given me. Please give me the grace to love those around me and to keep a positive attitude. Overflow my heart with Your Joy today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Listening to Dr. David Jeremiah on TV: He just said "The Bible is forever!" and that is definitely true. God bless y'all . f on this last Saturday in January...I can't believe we have less than a week left of January. Looking forward to Feb...my birthday ( 68 years old) and a 4-year anniversary for Philip and I to have our 1st date on 2/14/2021!!!
Ouch is right! I'm sure I'll be working on this the rest of my life! God certainly has given me a life I do not deserve, I pray for compassion and grace for others dear Lord.
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the life that You have given me. Please give me the grace to love those around me and to keep a positive attitude. Overflow my heart with Your Joy today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Amen
Thank you Pastor for your gentle reminder. I do have a few neighbors I need to love. 😉🕊️
Amen 🙏🏻 Thank you Pastor for bringing this message to my attention today, it was needed.
Sometimes it is hard to love someone who is ugly to you, but if you look deep inside them there is God’s Spirit, the same one that is in us. We have common ground to let God’s love flow.
Amen!!! We love because He first loved us. I want to do Your will dear Father. In Your presence with the Holy Spirit's help, I will have that deep down Joy that Jesus made possible. May I always show love and extend grace to those in need of Jesus...even when it's hard. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen! 🙏
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the life that You have given me. Please give me the grace to love those around me and to keep a positive attitude. Overflow my heart with Your Joy today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the life that You have given me. Please give me the grace to love those around me and to keep a positive attitude. Overflow my heart with Your Joy today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen! ❤️🤟🏻
Amen 🙏 🙏🙏❤️🙏🙏🙏!!
Amen,.
Good morning, God bless you all.
Comment from Valeri Frank
1 day ago
Amen!🙏🏼 Good morning Elena... ❤️ I hope you have a great weekend.
Amen! Give me grace and a positive attitude today.
Amen!
Yes Lord, I pray this in Jesus's name, amen.
Post from Deborah Blackshear
1 day ago
God thank You for joy that the world did give me.
Dear Heavenly Father, please shine Your Love Light on us all. Give us the Grace to share that Precious Love with our neighbors. Give me the grace to know when and where you need me to help someone in need. In Jesus Name I Pray... Amen!
Amen
Hallelujah. Amen.🙏🙏
Comment from Dan Remley
22 hours ago
Kevin, I love reading your comments. They are always inspiring and good things to live buy. Thank you Kevin ❤️
Comment from Bella Colliander
1 day ago
Amen and Amen Kevin!🙏🕊️
Comment from Debi Burton
1 day ago
Amen
Comment from Lynn Brown
1 day ago
Amen, Kevin!
Comment from Valeri Frank
1 day ago
Amen!🙏🏼