And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. (I John 1:4 ESV)
Fear Not… Then Spread Joy
Back in the day before instant news, I often was not very kind. In school days, I enjoyed spreading bad news. Ashamed today, I found pleasure in informing Dave that Star Trek had been cancelled. I smiled as I told Steve that Boston had lost their star pitcher. I enjoyed passing the news to Brad that The Beatles once more refused to reunite.
I do not think I was the only one. I probably am still not the only one.
We even talk about God things in this way. How grand, we say, will it be when Christ comes and destroys those who have despised Him! How thrilling it is to note that God’s Word speaks against someone else’s hobby. What strange joy we discover in our hearts when we see a popular leader, who we do not particularly care for, fall publicly in sin.
But John writes his letter for a different reason. The news he gives is due to a different motivation. The words he passes on have a different goal.
He writes to have full joy, both in himself AND his readers.
How winsome the gospel would be if we remembered his example. If we spoke against others’ transgressions NOT to feel triump ourselves, but ONLY to drive people to the only solution: our wonderful Jesus. If we present bad news ONLY to present also THE good news of Jesus Christ! If we told grim stories ONLY to end such stories with the glories of Jesus, desiring others to find joy in Him, instead of fear of anything else.
Maybe we have forgotten the depth of our joy, making it hard to pass joy on to others…
Fear not, then spread joy.