“We write this to make our joy complete.” (1 John 1:4)
Sometimes short, simple verses like this one tell us way more than we expect.
After three densely packed verses about John’s unique perspective as an eyewitness of eternal life – and what that means for those of us who believe – he adds this little sentence about joy.
He tells his story to make our joy complete. We can take “our” to mean, I think, everyone in fellowship together with the Father, the Son, and each other. To tell others about the salvation available through faith in Christ – and then to see them accept the gift and join the family – completes the joy of everyone involved.
We can also find joy in telling the story of Jesus, telling our story of how he saved us, how we found eternal life in him. We all say that we want to be happy; this is one of the ways God provides for us to experience something even greater.
Think: Have you ever experienced the joy of seeing someone respond to the message of Jesus by trusting in him for salvation? Why do you think that can be such a joyful experience?
Pray: Ask God to help you to find joy in telling others about the path to eternal life through faith in Jesus.
Do: Read more about John’s joyful response to those who hear and act on his message in 3 John 1-4.