2022-02-25
Good Morning Dear Ones,
There is an element of discovery in finding joy. We can discover hints to its origin in MT 13: 43-44. “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. ‘The Kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field,’” For real joy, read vss. 45 -50 in addition. This is what the Lord Jesus was saying to His disciples. Despite not knowing the Lord Jesus directly, David included these words in his prayer of confession, in PS 51: 12, “Give me again the joy of Your salvation and make me obey You…” We see yet another hint of this joy, in LK 2: 10-11, “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.’” Last week, I cited LK 10: 21 and it too is a wise use of your time to reread. It explains why little children have a sense of the joy of salvation. In LK 34: 52, we find witnesses to Christ’s ascension to heaven, who, having been worshipping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy. Each of these three citations involve joy, formerly hidden from them now revealed to them.
James, Christ’s half-brother who didn’t come to faith until after the crucifixion, was then also filled with wisdom and joy. In JAS 1: 2-4, he tells others, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” Perseverance leads to maturity, not lacking anything. Such people are wise and not judgmental. Discovery of the joy of salvation, which had been hidden before, is a net result.
The story of what happened to Paul and Silas, in AC 16: 16-40, is a favorite of mine. They were on their mission when they encountered a slave girl infected with an evil spirit who predicted the future and made a lot of money for her owner. She followed Paul and the others, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who tell you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for days, causing Paul to exorcise the evil spirit from her. Her owners seized Paul and Silas, bringing them to the authorities since they could no longer make money from her. They were identified as Jews, breaking a Roman law, and they were stripped, beaten, and thrown into jail. They were brought into the inner cell and their feet fastened in stocks. Later around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, as the other prisoners listened. Suddenly, a violent earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. All the doors flew open, and the prisoners’ chains loosened. The jailer awoke and saw what was happening, and he almost committed suicide. Paul stopped him and told him everyone was present. The jailer called for the lights to be put on; then, he came to Paul and Silas trembling. “What must I do to be saved” he asked them. “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved,” Paul replied. Then, the two missionaries spoke the words of the Lord to him. He and his family were baptized. The jailer brought Paul and Silas to his home and gave them a meal. He was filled with joy, because of his newfound faith in the Lord. The magistrates came with an order to release Paul and Silas to go on their way. Since they were Roman citizens who had been thrown into prison without a trial, they asked the magistrates to escort them to Lydia’s house, where they encouraged the believers, and later led out of the city.
What do I love so much about this story? It is a discovery and demonstration of God’s power to do good and to bring joy to his servants and those they impact. God can take us “out of the slimy pit and quicksand and bring us to where He can set us on a firm place, a solid Rock,” [PS 40: 1-2] which is Christ, the Lord. Imagine having God’s constant presence in your life and a true Source of joy! This joy is why Paul and Silas could sing and pray to the Lord, while being chained up in a prison. God’s power to bring faith to the jailer, his family, and other prisoners in earshot of these hymns and prayers uttered by Paul and Silas. In PHIL 4: 4, we are told, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say again: Rejoice!”
PRAYER: O Lord, we are weak and vulnerable to shifting winds which drive us spiritually off course. However, in Your goodness, You have created us with the capability to turn temptation away and follow “the hard path through the narrow gate that leads to eternal life” [MT 7: 13-14]. It is necessary for us to look for You at work in our lives, to find the many daily blessings You bestow upon us. We are undeserving of the grace You give us and have no right to claim it as from ourselves. Dearest Father, we love You and are working to make Your leadership “a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path” [PS 119:105]. With You, we can be strong in all aspects of our lives. We thank and praise You for Your profound wisdom, Your presence in our lives through the Holy Spirit, and Your caring ways. In the holy/might name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: I am directed by the Holy Spirit to write about important priorities that lead to inner joy. The Lord knows which of us are genuine believers in Christ. He watches over us constantly, as the Lord Jesus is our Advocate [1 JN 2: 1]. A true believer holds on to his faith from the time he first believes. God knows this state of faith and rewards it with our glorification in His own perfect time and way. This time doesn’t always sync with human desires, as in the case of the recent passing of a show business legend, Betty White. She was only 17 days short of her 100th birthday when she died in her sleep. While we all loved her for the kind animal lover she was, we also loved her for her remarkable talents as a singer and comedienne. There are people like her who are remembered for their kindness and generosity. My husband, Peter, who passed away on April 17, 2021, was like that. No one has anything negative to say about him. What a great legacy these two individuals have left us! That is how the Lord brings joy, even during grieving and trials. Praise and thanks be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn, JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2022. All Rights Reserved
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