One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!”
But the other responded, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?”
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And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:39?43) ...
“For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;” [2 Corinthians 2:15]
Joy is the signature fragrance of a saved child of God.
Rejoicing only when something good happens and rejoicing only when it benefits you is not true joy because it is conditional. It is not true joy because it disappears when difficulties arise.
The joy we have in the Lord is a joy that we always have, regardless of our circumstances. Even if the reality is hard and difficult, we have eternal life that we can’t trade for anything, and we are full of hope for the afterlife. It makes us have joy springing from the depths of heart.
The fragrance of this joy brings comfort and happiness to not only ourselves but also to the people around us.