May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 15:13)
No matter grim our prospects here on earth might seem, we have an eternal hope that far outweighs the suffering of this life. The reason the persecuted church thrives, in fact, may be that those who clearly see they have no hope in this life are set free from it to rejoice in the hope of the life to come. As we trust him for eternity we have joy and peace in the here and now. That hope which we enjoy is from the Holy Spirit, with whom we were sealed as a sign of the certain hope to come. If we also find in this life reasons for hope and rejoicing, we are doubly blessed. And God does pour out blessings here and now, even in the midst of trial. Thank you, Lord!
Showing posts with label joy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label joy. Show all posts
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
The Greatest Joy
However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. (Lk 10:20)
However blessed we are by any gift or power or ministry God has given us, our greatest joy must always be that our names are written in the book of life. Let us seek no greater fame or glory than that.
However blessed we are by any gift or power or ministry God has given us, our greatest joy must always be that our names are written in the book of life. Let us seek no greater fame or glory than that.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
No Long Faces
Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them.” (Mk 2:19)
We have Jesus with us every moment of the day. This should be a cause of great joy! (“You will fill me with joy in your presence.” Ps 16:11) One mark of a disciple should be joy. Lord, teach me to enjoy your presence throughout each day.
We have Jesus with us every moment of the day. This should be a cause of great joy! (“You will fill me with joy in your presence.” Ps 16:11) One mark of a disciple should be joy. Lord, teach me to enjoy your presence throughout each day.
Friday, May 21, 2010
The Lord Reigns!
The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. (Ps 97:1)
If Israel rejoiced to know that God reigns, how much more should we? They had only the promise of salvation; we have the blessed fact of it. They had the Temple; we have the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Thank you, Lord!
If Israel rejoiced to know that God reigns, how much more should we? They had only the promise of salvation; we have the blessed fact of it. They had the Temple; we have the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Thank you, Lord!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Holy to the Lord
Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD…It will be on Aaron’s forehead, and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate. It will be on Aaron's forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the LORD. (Ex 28:36,38)
The whole tone of this passage is that Aaron approached the mercy seat tenuously and cautiously, anxiously hoping that all the ceremonies and sacred trappings had been performed just right so he would not die. But we “approach the throne of grace with confidence” (Heb 4:16) because the blood of Jesus is a better sacrifice than the blood of goats. And again, “we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus.” (Heb 10:10) The blood of Jesus is the perfect and eternally secure covering for our sin, so that for us the plate of gold Aaron wore becomes a beautiful symbol of our salvation. I wear on my forehead a golden seal which says Holy to the Lord. And it is not of my own making. “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” (Rom 5:9) “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom 5:1) Father, thank you! Thank you for this perfect peace that comes from your eternal and perfect gift of your Son. Thank you for the seal of the Holy Spirit in my heart. I do not need to wear an outward seal, but I too am declared “Holy to the Lord” by a salvation more secure than what you had yet shown your people in Aaron’s day. Thank you! Amen.
The whole tone of this passage is that Aaron approached the mercy seat tenuously and cautiously, anxiously hoping that all the ceremonies and sacred trappings had been performed just right so he would not die. But we “approach the throne of grace with confidence” (Heb 4:16) because the blood of Jesus is a better sacrifice than the blood of goats. And again, “we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus.” (Heb 10:10) The blood of Jesus is the perfect and eternally secure covering for our sin, so that for us the plate of gold Aaron wore becomes a beautiful symbol of our salvation. I wear on my forehead a golden seal which says Holy to the Lord. And it is not of my own making. “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” (Rom 5:9) “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom 5:1) Father, thank you! Thank you for this perfect peace that comes from your eternal and perfect gift of your Son. Thank you for the seal of the Holy Spirit in my heart. I do not need to wear an outward seal, but I too am declared “Holy to the Lord” by a salvation more secure than what you had yet shown your people in Aaron’s day. Thank you! Amen.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Thirsty for You
As the dear pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. (Ps 42:1)
I need these times of refreshing with you, God – even throughout the day. My soul dries up if I go my separate way. You are never far from us, even if we cannot feel your presence. I am “practicing the presence of God” now, and I long to deepen and strengthen my connection to you. I don’t want to slip back into laziness and apathy as I have in times past. Lord, increase my desire for your presence.
I need these times of refreshing with you, God – even throughout the day. My soul dries up if I go my separate way. You are never far from us, even if we cannot feel your presence. I am “practicing the presence of God” now, and I long to deepen and strengthen my connection to you. I don’t want to slip back into laziness and apathy as I have in times past. Lord, increase my desire for your presence.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
After the Tears
“This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. (Neh 8:9b)
The people were weeping in repentance as they heard the law read which they had so long forgotten. No doubt there were tears of deep regret and a sense of loss for all the years they had not walked in the Lord’s ways. True repentance is often associated with tears. This is good and right. But God doesn’t want us to remain there. If we continue to mope and cry we are looking backward and not forward. God has separated us from our sin as far as the east is from the west. We are new creatures in Christ; why do we continue to mourn? Nehemiah commanded the people to “celebrate with great joy” and we should do the same. Lord, forgive me for clinging to my sin when you have cast it away and for dwelling on my regrets when you have a bright future prepared for us. Help me to truly accept your forgiveness and truly trust in your sovereignty – to set my face toward the future and not the past.
The people were weeping in repentance as they heard the law read which they had so long forgotten. No doubt there were tears of deep regret and a sense of loss for all the years they had not walked in the Lord’s ways. True repentance is often associated with tears. This is good and right. But God doesn’t want us to remain there. If we continue to mope and cry we are looking backward and not forward. God has separated us from our sin as far as the east is from the west. We are new creatures in Christ; why do we continue to mourn? Nehemiah commanded the people to “celebrate with great joy” and we should do the same. Lord, forgive me for clinging to my sin when you have cast it away and for dwelling on my regrets when you have a bright future prepared for us. Help me to truly accept your forgiveness and truly trust in your sovereignty – to set my face toward the future and not the past.
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