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Does Your Belief in Jesus Give You Joy?

Letters of M’Cheyne Part 3 of 6


What does it mean to believe in Jesus? How can I seek and find Him? These crucial questions are pastorally answered in 6 letters that Robert Murray M’Cheyne wrote to a dying lady in his congregation. We will be posting each of these letters individually over the next few months, so we pray that they would be a blessing to you!


Robert Murray M'Cheyne (1813 - 1843) was a faithful minister at St Peter's Church in Dundee, Scotland, from 1836 to 1843. The Lord took him home to glory at the young age of 29 years old, but his love for Christ continues to encourage many today. These letters are taken from Andrew Bonar’s great biography of M’Cheyne: The Memoirs and Remains of Robert Murray M’Cheyne and slightly modernized.


Letters to a Soul Seeking Jesus (3) – Joy in Believing


Dear Friend,


I send you another line to tell you Jesus is the Way (John 14:6). ... We are now looking forward to another Lord’s Supper season, and I am busy instructing young people for that holy and blessed ordinance. I think you said you were a good deal impressed at our last communion, and wished that you had been one of those seated at the table: due to your sickness, perhaps you may never be permitted to sit at the table on earth; your first communion may be in glory!


Rom. 15:13 expresses all my desire for you: "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit." First, this text shows us who is the Author of conversion—"the God of hope." He must open your heart so that you embrace the gospel that I speak to you. The truths that are presented to you will not convert your heart; the God of hope must breathe on your heart and often water it.


Second, see how He gives you joy and peace—"in believing." When Jesus revealed Himself to Thomas, Thomas cried out with joy, "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28)! If Jesus reveals Himself to you in all the glory of His person, the completeness of His work, and the freeness of His love, you too will be filled with appropriating (“embracing” or “receiving”), joyful faith, and will cry, "My Lord and my God!"


It is difficult to explain what it is to believe—I suppose it is impossible. But when Jesus reveals His matchless beauty, and gives you a sweet glimpse of His matchless face that was beaten and spit upon, then your soul joyfully clings to Him. That is what it means to believe, and that is the joy and peace that’s found in believing.


Friend, the truest, purest joy flows from a discovery of Jesus Christ. He is the hidden treasure that gives such joy to the finder (Matt. 13:44). Do you think you have found that treasure? That’s an important, searching question! Because if not, you are incredibly poor.


But how much joy may you have in Christ? The Apostle Paul also answers that in this text: "The God of hope fill you with all joy." You do not need to be afraid to take the full joy that Jesus gives. If you really come to Christ, you come to the love of Jehovah, and that is a filling love. The love of other creatures cannot fill our hearts; but God's love coming with fullness upon our soul gives us fullness of joy (1 John 1:4). It is holy love, sovereign love.


Friend, it is time to decide the question of your eternity. One thing is needful! Have you closed with the great Mediator? Do you have saving knowledge of Jesus? Only then will death lose its power, and the grave become the bed of peaceful rest.


There is a land of pure delight,

Where saints immortal reign;

Infinite day excludes the night,

And pleasures banish pain.


Cast all your care for time and eternity on Jesus! The softest of all pillows is the heart of our guardian Immanuel.


I am, ever yours,

Robert Murray M'Cheyne


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