⁴These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.

What motivated John to write this letter? For that matter, what motivated the apostles to risk their lives and ultimately die in service of spreading the message about Jesus Christ? There was continual opposition, resistance on every front. Why go through all they endured? The answer is simple: joy.

Is it not true that when we are overjoyed, we can’t help ourselves from talking about what gives us joy? If we win a coveted promotion at work, we want to talk about it. When our team wins a championship, we talk at length about it. When a person falls in love, you can’t shut that person up from talking about his or her loved one. The amount of joy one expresses seems to be proportional to the experience of joy.

The apostles were overjoyed by the Lord Jesus Christ; they couldn’t contain themselves. Their boldness, of course, came from the empowering work of the Holy Spirit filling their lives. But it was the joy that motivated them. In fact, joy as a motivator in the face of opposition was modeled by our Lord Jesus:

. . . [L]et us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:1–2)

The apostle Paul was motivated by joy as well in dealing with church problems:

[M]ake my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. (Phil. 2:2)

John the Baptist was also motivated as he endured his harsh lifestyle and proclaimed a message of the coming Messiah that the religious leaders rejected:

“He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.” (John 3:29)

In His upper room prayer, Jesus prayed for His disciples and those who would believe through them:

“But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.” (John 17:13)

The apostle John pursued the fullness of joy by spreading the news of Christ, that others might also have the joy of fellowship with Him.

Prayer: Lord, I want that same fullness of joy; please embolden me by Your Spirit.