In thinking about this passage of Scripture in 1 John 1:1-4, the idea of complete joy caught my attention. John mentions “complete joy” in his gospel and in his short letters.
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ~ John 15:11
Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. ~John 16:24
We write this to make our joy complete. ~1 John 1:4
I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. ~2 John 1:12
In 1 John 1, John is proclaiming Jesus, the Word of Life, and encouraging those to whom he wrote in their faith and fellowship … through which is found “complete joy.”
IN Paradise while moonbeams play’d,
Jehovah found, in slumber deep,
Adam fast sunk; He gently laid
Eve near him,–she, too, fell asleep.
There lay they now, on earth’s fair shrine,
God’s two most beauteous thoughts divine.–
When this He saw, He cried:–‘Tis Good!!!
And scarce could move from where He stood.
No wonder, that our joy’s complete
While eye and eye responsive meet,
When this blest thought of rapture moves us–
That we’re with Him who truly loves us,
And if He cries:–Good, let it be!
‘Tis so for both, it seems to me.
Thou’rt clasp’d within these arms of mine,
Dearest of all God’s thoughts divine!
~Goethe
Our joy is made complete in love … the love between Abba Father and child, between brothers and sisters in Christ, between friends, and in the unique relationship of husband and wife.
In an interview with The Washington Times, Anne Lamott is quoted, “I think joy and sweetness and affection are a spiritual path. We’re here to know God, to love and serve God, and to be blown away by the beauty and miracle of nature. You just have to get rid of so much baggage to be light enough to dance, to sing, to play.”
Our joy runs deep … like an underground river … living water.
Along the banks of the river we run
We dance with laughter giving praise to the Son
~Andy Park
