In John 15:11, Jesus is speaking to His disciples telling
them “these things I have spoken to you, so that My joy may be in you and that
your joy may be full.” My joy sure is
full these days.
Last Saturday, Sheila and I had the privilege to give our
daughter Lauren to become the wife of Zach Dickson. We had given our daughter Lindsey in marriage
just last August to Jordan Limerick. I
was thinking there should be some kind of moratorium on weddings so that they
could be at least two years apart. But
here we were again, eleven months later giving another daughter away.
Jesus was getting ready to leave His disciples to go and die
for them. He was getting ready to pay
the ultimate sacrifice by laying down His life for them. That sacrifice is what makes verse 11 so
meaningful to me. When anyone turns from
their sin and trusts in the saving work of Christ on the cross, they enter into
an amazing relationship full of joy. Joy fills our lives and makes us full. I can tell you today, I have never been so
full of the joy that comes from Him. He
is so good and so worth it.
Our family has grown with the addition of Zack and his
family. We welcome all of them into our
family just as we have Jordan and his family.
I think Christ gets great joy as His family grows! Today, abide in Him and let His words abide
in you and you will bear fruit. That
fruit may very well be the fruit of people coming into the family of God!
I love you,
Todd Alewine
Lead Pastor, BCC
