Better than the Magic Kingdom

Everyone in the Disney World commercials has great big smiles. Kids are laughing and oohing and aahing. It looks like everyone is really happy.

There's certainly nothing wrong with having a fun time and building family memories.

But is that all there is?

Do we go from one event to the next, hoping to be happier?

A day in the Magic Kingdom may be great fun, but what about the next day?

Maybe a weekend at the Magic Kingdom will be better.

Maybe if you got a job at the Magic Kingdom you'd always be happy!

Nothing against the Magic Kingdom. You could plug in any place, any activity, any group of people, any food and come to the same conclusion: Is this all there is? Where's the promised happiness?

Jesus promised to give us joy.

"These things I have spoken to you that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11).

He has a plan to fill us with His joy. Do you want to know what that is?

What are "these things" that He spoke?

Abiding in Him. John 15 begins with the picture of the vine and the branches. Jesus is the vine, His Father is the keeper of the vines and we are the branches. we can do nothing apart from Him. He wants us to bear fruit by abiding in Him. As we abide in Him and bear fruit, we will find joy (vs 1-6).

Praying. As we are abiding in Him, maintaining fellowship with Him, we will be praying to Him. Communicating with Him about our needs and desires. And He promises to answer our prayers. Wow! The Creator of the universe will answer our prayers! And answered prayers leads to greater joy (v 7).

Obedience. If we obey, we will abide in His love. Our obedience shows our love to Him. And as we love Him, He loves us in return. We don't have to earn His love, but the love can become intensified as we abide and obey. Greater love leads to more joy (vs 8-11).

Go ahead and have fun. But don't try to find joy at the Magic Kingdom.

You'll only find that by abiding in, praying to and obeying Jesus, the only One who can give you joy.