We Were the Joy That Was Set Before Him

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i wrote a little bit about this in my other blog, but i did not go into detail. and i am sure that i do not have everything that God wants to give me on this subject. either way here is what God has been showing me about me (us the Body of Christ).

Heb 12:2
"looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

i have this worship album by Klaus "Glory." which i think everyone should listen to and worship with. anyway the song that spurred me to think about all of this is called "You Are The Joy." it starts out singing that we were the joy that was set before Him on the cross. then it leads into singing that He is the joy that is set before us. it took me several days of thinking about this to even grasp the idea. but here is the truth in all of this. God set us before Jesus which gave Him the strength to endure His cross, and likewise God has given us Jesus so that we would have the strength to endure our cross (and or calling). 

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

Jesus before this was talking about abiding in love which means we are abiding in Him. then He out of the blue (or what would seem like the blue) tell us us that He wants us to have His joy and that He wants it to be full. then He leads right into talking about laying ones life down for his friends. then He calls those who follow His commandment of "loving your brother " friends. we all know that He was talking about His death on the cross here. and that he wanted to lay His life down for us. for me it is a no-brainer what He is talking about. when i (we) abide in the love that He commanded us to do we build a deep intimate relationship with God. and through this when we are carrying our cross (calling) and the world (with all the demons in it) starts to brake us down; here is what should give you strength to carry on: Jesus! He is and should be the joy that is set before us. with Him as our focal point nothing else should matter.

so when we look back at Heb 12:2 and we see that we were the joy that was set before Him, and that we (in all of our imperfections) gave Him joy to endure His cross (calling). this should be the perfect example for us to follow. we should set Jesus in front of us so that we may have the strength to endure our cross (calling).