Joy is the Flag

Yesterday my pastor started a new sermon series on the book of Philippians – also known as the “epistle of joy”.  Today I can’t get the old chorus out of my mind that goes like this:

Joy is the flag flown high from the castle of my heart,

From the castle of my heart, from the castle of my heart.

Joy is the flag flown high from the castle of my heart

When the King is in residence there.

Does anyone else remember that little chorus?  If so, I know approximately how old you are! 

But, catchy as it is, this chorus could be a little misleading.  Let me explain what I mean.  Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23, which means that it is not something I can produce in myself – it must be produced in me by the Holy Spirit as a result of my ongoing relationship with God.  And, unlike the castles of certain kings that served as temporary residences as they came and went among the many different lands in their kingdoms, the Bible teaches that the King of Kings takes up permanent residence inside his children from the initial moment they choose to follow Him.

But the Bible also teaches that we are each responsible to choose joy in every circumstance (Romans 12:12 & James 1:2).  We are always in control of how we respond – at least to the degree that our humanness allows.  So is joy our responsibility or God’s?  The not-so-simple answer is “yes”.

My current pastor hasn’t gotten to Philippians 2:12-13 yet in his series, but I remember a previous pastor speaking on these verses many years ago:

“Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.  For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” 

Here we can see why “yes” is the appropriate answer to whether joy is God’s or my responsibility.  We are called to work out our daily walk as God works in us.  Joy-filling is a partnership between God and me, and we both have jobs to do.  God gives me his constant “residence” in my heart and produces joy and other fruits in me as I grow closer to him; and I have daily choices to make regarding my responses to circumstances that don’t naturally make me joyful.  Together, we can be a great team.  Today I’m choosing to fly the flag of joy from the castle of my heart – because the King IS in residence there!