Joy “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Gal. 5:22-23) The joy we have in Christ has the ability to carry us beyond the trials and troubles we face. The love that is God (1 John 4:8) arms us for triumph and gives us this joy. Joy is a spiritual serenity much higher that any emotional state of euphoria and is more satisfying than the selfish heart knows. This joy can only be found in Christ. We see Christ exhibit this joy during his death, burial, and resurrection. This joy we are to have is what caused Christ to endure (Heb. 12:2) . He endured the cross and its shame. Not the glorified haloed object we cling to and ornate our homes with, but the cruel instrument of torture. A means of death and humiliation reserved for the most vile and lowest criminals. It was meant to punish and disgrace its victims. There was no hono...