This is the sixth in a series of seven posts explaining and applying GFA's seven core values. See posts on biblical, conservative, expectant, prayerful, and gracious.

Core Value #6–Joyful: We believe it is an indescribable privilege to serve the Lord, and we desire to reflect His worth by displaying a contented, satisfied soul and the joy of the Holy Spirit.

Why did we choose joyful as a core value? Why do we want this quality at the very center of our character and our identity as an organization? Our explanation of joyful includes these words: We desire to reflect His worth. The joy produced by God’s Spirit in His people displays something about Jesus Himself. A joyful soul that is satisfied in Christ is a testimony to the infinite value of Christ! Holy Spirit joy shouts: “He’s all that my hungering spirit needs.” And how that glorifies Him!

A glum, complaining, grumpy spirit says something about Jesus too. But what it says is not true! We do not want to announce, “Yes, I have Jesus, but He is not enough for me.” Don’t we want to display how wonderful our Savior is? Don’t we want to demonstrate that serving Him is truly an indescribable privilege? Don’t we want to reflect Christ’s infinite worth by a satisfied soul that is content in Him? We want this joy at the core!

But sin often makes life and ministry in this fallen world excruciating. Even the most fervent believer possesses the sinful flesh, a “traitor within.” We minister to other believers who have that same flesh, and we serve Christ in a fallen world that hates Him. It hurts when people respond angrily to our efforts to share the infinite love of Christ with them. We grieve, often with immense discouragement, when those who have appeared to be faithful for a long time fall away, reject Christ, and take others with them. Of course, daily life holds the pressures of sickness, economic challenges, government concerns, and a host of other difficulties. For missionaries, we add elements of immigration, language acquisition, and cultural adaptation. Yes, life as finite people with fallen flesh in a fallen world is filled with many obstacles to our joy. So, how can we get and keep joy at the core? Consider two answers to that question.

First, keep Jesus Himself as the prize. People fail. Finances change. Health fluctuates. The old hymn reminds us: All may change, but Jesus never—glory to His name! That hymn is entitled “Yesterday, Today, Forever,” based on Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”¹ We must not put our stock in anything else but Christ! Getting people to respond a certain way is a good goal, but it’s not the ultimate prize. Economic stability is not the prize. Health is not the prize. Jesus is the prize! He will never fail. He will never forsake us. We can put all our stock in Christ, and we will never be disappointed (1 Peter 2:6). There is nothing so practical for stirring our joy than a daily, hourly, moment-by-moment fixing our eyes and hearts on Jesus. For those of us who know Him, we can go check right now and find that our sins are still in the depths of the sea. Because of Jesus and Jesus alone, God will never pull them back up. The east is still as far from the west as it has ever been, and because of Christ, that’s how far God has removed our sins—forever! So, let’s constantly do what Psalm 32:11 commands: “Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.” Whatever is happening in life and ministry, we can get up every morning, check down there in the depths of the sea, see all our iniquities taken away forever, and shout for joy! That joy displays the infinite worth of Jesus Christ.

Second, marvel at the privilege of being His servant. Not only has Jesus rescued, cleansed, and pardoned us and made us children of God forever, but He has taken us in His hands to be His tools as He builds His Church. We are His ambassadors in this world to declare His glory and greatness and grace and worth to other people. This reality prompted Paul to exclaim “To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8). We ought to marvel constantly with Paul at this privilege. We have it so good, by the grace of God. From eternally condemned sinners to fully pardoned children of God who proclaim Christ to the nations. All because of Jesus. Our lives ought to throb with a joy and contentment that reflect this bounty and favor that Jesus has given to us. We want it at the core!