During the third week of Advent we are invited to experience the joy we find in walking with and serving our Savior. We know that while we are here on earth prior to Jesus' return that there will be difficulty. But we also know that Jesus will never leave nor forsake us and that is a source of joy for us. We can even go so far as to say that Jesus is our joy. As we share that joy with others, they further our own joy, and those we nurture in Christ become our joy as well (see 1 Thessalonians 2:19: "For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?"). As we prepare for the Lord's advent, then, we do so with joy.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)
Rejoice...always? That sounds impossible, but only if we are careless and overlook the three words in between: "in the Lord." I don't have to rejoice over my misfortune or troubles (although I can when that trouble is the result of honestly living out my faith). But I can rejoice in the Lord no matter my circumstances because I am "in" the Lord; that is, I belong to and am under the care of God. No matter your difficulty, you do not face it alone, for the God of the universe is there beside you, and that is worth rejoicing over.
At the end of Philippians 4:5 Paul reminds his readers that "The Lord is near." This, as I mentioned in the post above, is the key to joy, gentleness, anxiety and peace. It is the sure knowledge that the Lord is near; that He is with us and will never forsake us. It is the certainty that "in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, [you can] present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Such joy!
Just moments after reading your two posts from this morning, Pastor Matt, I read the following:
"No matter who or what we are, God restores us to right standing with himself only by means of the death of Jesus Christ. The atonement by the Cross of Christ is the propitiation God uses to make unholy people holy. Once we realize that Christ has become all this for us--righteousness, sanctification, and redemption--the limitless joy of God begins in us." --Oswald Chambers
The postings this week have been alive with the strength, the truths of our Loving Savior. He said in John 10:10, "I have come that ye might have LIFE and have it abundantly" - not as the world sees abundance, but filled with peace, knowing He is near, HIS JOY - SUCH JOY!. Amen
"Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation."
(Isaiah 12:2-3)
Here we get to the heart of joy. Our source of joy is drawn from the "well of salvation." We receive joy as a gift from God and produce joy as a fruit of the Spirit because we have been saved from our sins by the Lord who loves us. When I turned from my sin and toward God, when I repented and began working with God to walk in His way, I knew joy. The righteousness, sanctification and redemption spoken of by Oswald Chambers are all produced through the salvation we find in Jesus, whose death on the cross and resurrection to new life make it possible for us to be holy (set apart) for His purpose. Knowing that purpose and allowing God to bring it to fruition in our lives produces...you guessed it...joy.
"John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, 'You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father." For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.' (Luke 3:7-9)
Here's the scary part of that passage: Jesus was talking to "religious" people; people who were already "right" with God, at least on paper. If you were contextualize that passage, we could very well be the ones Jesus would point to as a "brood of vipers," especially if, as is too often the case, we are failing to produce the fruit of repentance. And the fruit of repentance is transformation as we move from a life characterized by sin and sorrow to one which is defined by justification and bears the fruit of the Spirit, which includes joy. If we are fruitful, if we have been transformed by the power of the Spirit and thus produce the fruit of the Spirit, we are prepared. If we have not and do not, we are not. Are you ready?
During the third week of Advent we are invited to experience the joy we find in walking with and serving our Savior. We know that while we are here on earth prior to Jesus' return that there will be difficulty. But we also know that Jesus will never leave nor forsake us and that is a source of joy for us. We can even go so far as to say that Jesus is our joy. As we share that joy with others, they further our own joy, and those we nurture in Christ become our joy as well (see 1 Thessalonians 2:19: "For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?"). As we prepare for the Lord's advent, then, we do so with joy.
ReplyDeleteRejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)
ReplyDeleteRejoice...always? That sounds impossible, but only if we are careless and overlook the three words in between: "in the Lord." I don't have to rejoice over my misfortune or troubles (although I can when that trouble is the result of honestly living out my faith). But I can rejoice in the Lord no matter my circumstances because I am "in" the Lord; that is, I belong to and am under the care of God. No matter your difficulty, you do not face it alone, for the God of the universe is there beside you, and that is worth rejoicing over.
At the end of Philippians 4:5 Paul reminds his readers that "The Lord is near." This, as I mentioned in the post above, is the key to joy, gentleness, anxiety and peace. It is the sure knowledge that the Lord is near; that He is with us and will never forsake us. It is the certainty that "in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, [you can] present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Such joy!
ReplyDeleteJust moments after reading your two posts from this morning, Pastor Matt, I read the following:
ReplyDelete"No matter who or what we are, God restores us to right standing with himself only by means of the death of Jesus Christ. The atonement by the Cross of Christ is the propitiation God uses to make unholy people holy. Once we realize that Christ has become all this for us--righteousness, sanctification, and redemption--the limitless joy of God begins in us." --Oswald Chambers
The postings this week have been alive with the strength, the truths of our Loving Savior. He said in John 10:10, "I have come that ye might have LIFE and have it abundantly" - not as the world sees abundance, but filled with peace, knowing He is near, HIS JOY - SUCH JOY!. Amen
ReplyDelete"Surely God is my salvation;
ReplyDeleteI will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.
With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation."
(Isaiah 12:2-3)
Here we get to the heart of joy. Our source of joy is drawn from the "well of salvation." We receive joy as a gift from God and produce joy as a fruit of the Spirit because we have been saved from our sins by the Lord who loves us. When I turned from my sin and toward God, when I repented and began working with God to walk in His way, I knew joy. The righteousness, sanctification and redemption spoken of by Oswald Chambers are all produced through the salvation we find in Jesus, whose death on the cross and resurrection to new life make it possible for us to be holy (set apart) for His purpose. Knowing that purpose and allowing God to bring it to fruition in our lives produces...you guessed it...joy.
"John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, 'You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father." For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.' (Luke 3:7-9)
ReplyDeleteHere's the scary part of that passage: Jesus was talking to "religious" people; people who were already "right" with God, at least on paper. If you were contextualize that passage, we could very well be the ones Jesus would point to as a "brood of vipers," especially if, as is too often the case, we are failing to produce the fruit of repentance. And the fruit of repentance is transformation as we move from a life characterized by sin and sorrow to one which is defined by justification and bears the fruit of the Spirit, which includes joy. If we are fruitful, if we have been transformed by the power of the Spirit and thus produce the fruit of the Spirit, we are prepared. If we have not and do not, we are not. Are you ready?
Good Sabbath! Looking forward to seeing all of you in church, where "It's all good!"
ReplyDelete