Spotlight 13: What matters is our connection

is there even any room for “joy in christ” in our modern pleasure-oriented society? what can be done to promote this? district apostle wilfried klingler (central germany) explores these questions in his article on the annual motto for 2015. in our modern world, joy seems to be readily accessible at all times the modern “fun society” that has come into being seems to run round the clock, and nearly every day of the year. there is also a danger for christians to be swept along in this whirlpool, such that they find no more room for “joy in christ”. this joy is a christian virtue and is listed as the second fruit of the spirit in the letter to the galatians. it does not depend so much on external circumstances than on the believer’s inner attitude and connection to god. in the “i am” sayings recorded in his farewell discourses, jesus provides us with the elementary image of the vine. his connection to the father is to serve as an example to his disciples, and he describes it as a connection of love. christ concludes these thoughts with the beautiful statement: “these things i have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”. let us cultivate our connection to the lord and be thankful about the fact that we have been personally incorporated into the event of salvation—then joy will arise within us! perhaps it might still be possible to increase our joy in christ a little more here and there ….