True Christian joy in our restored relationship with our Father

A second source of Christian joy is very closely related to that, and that is the relationship that we now have with the Father. Because of the Son, I can always rejoice, knowing that the Father has given me the Son. But then, knowing what the Son has done for me and my relationship to the Father—what a cause that is for joy! Paul says this in Romans 5:1: Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. What a thing it is to have peace with God. Oh, it is a very blessed thing to have peace with men—we should! Paul says, So far as it depends on you, live in peace with everybody. But how much better to have peace with God!

In fact, more than that, we are adopted in the Son, so that we are, dearly beloved children of God (Ephesians 5:1). And so we have the knowledge of God’s sovereign care—a Father providing for his dear children. And the best of fathers—we do not all have good fathers—but we have one in God the Father, and he cares for us. And so, no matter what earthly trouble we have, we rejoice in barren times because of him. Here is how Habakkuk put it so memorably: Though the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines; though the produce of the olive may fail and the fields yield no food, though the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer. That is the person who knows our relationship with God as Father through Jesus Christ.¹

Richard D. Phillips