0022-10-28
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Last week, this question came up in the discussion of joy: Why can’t the world find joy? I mean the kind of joy that makes people in leadership want to make decisions that will lead to peace and cooperation, to a semblance of unified goals. There is nothing simplistic or ridiculously idealistic about praying for this to happen somehow in our broken present world. The questions about warlike, threatening behavior, world hunger and danger caused by leaders making evil decisions, the efforts to wipe out the culture of entire groups of people by another, prejudice against a group of people leading to subjugation and oppression of another, unfair economic competition, friendships that end up in betrayal and other like factors are just a few of the issues that block this cruel world from finding joy. There is no magic answer for these issues, except that we should put our problems in eternal perspective. God alone has the omnipotence to bring us out of this morass and give us real, lasting joy.
How do we find eternal perspective? The first step is to study the Scriptures, allowing the Holy Spirit to enter our hearts, the second is to recognize that our Creator loves us all and wants us to understand 1 COR 10: 13, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide you with a way out so that you can endure it.” Our God loves us so much that He wants as many people as possible to gain salvation through belief in His Son, Jesus Christ. Our Lord paid the price of His physical life, so that we may be bought out of the marketplace of sin and brought into a blissful eternal life with our Father in heaven [JN 3: 16; HE 9: 14-15; 2 TIM 3: 16-17]. (If you don’t know these verses by their citations, please take the time to look them up to enrich your experience with this and all my devotions). There is nothing ephemeral about God’s love for us [RO 8: 38-39].
Of course, there are people who vigorously disagree with this approach because they don’t believe in God or reject the teaching of the prophets and/or Jesus Christ. Surprisingly, most of these people just don’t want to bother with deeper questions and are wanting to do what they can to make a living for their families without them. However, those who are in leadership with this human-driven way of life are the ones whose decisions and behavior lead to so much heartache for those under them. They are greedy, materialistic, people who plow ahead with their lives without concern for those they impact.
People who live God-driven lives are set apart by the joy they can feel under adverse conditions of their lives. 1 PET 3: 14-17, “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.’ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for this hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than doing evil.” And yes, there are times when we must take insults from others knowing that our faith is sometimes tested. We should focus at all times on our eternal life, rather than only our earthly one. That is the example that our Lord Jesus set for us.
There are some things we must bear in mind: Our names are written on the palms of God’s hands [IS 49: 16]; God will put His stamp of ownership on those who persist in their faith in His Son [EPH 1: 11-14]’; those victorious over evil will be in God’s Book of Life [REV 3: 5]; martyrs for the faith will be given white robes, meaning saved [REV 6: 9-11]; no idolaters will have their names written in God’s Book of Life [1 COR 6: 9; GA 5: 19-21; EPH 5: 5; HE 12: 14; HE 13: 4-5; REV 21: 8, 26-27]; nothing can separate us from the love of God [RO 8: 38-39]; people are judged on the same standard and in fairness by God : REV 20: 11-12; salvation is definitely attainable by faith [RO 10: 9-10’ JN 3: 16]; Christ is our Advocate [ MT 10: 32; LK 12: 8; AC 16: 31; 1 JN 2: 1]. When we read all these Scriptures, we find sufficient motivation to believe FAITH + NOTHING = SALVATION! There are so many reasons, despite our illnesses, losses, and other challenges, to do what we must to have our names inscribed in God’s Book of Life. That is because God created us with the capabilities to overcome the negativity of our lives and to win the victory over sin. I urge each of us to think in eternal rather than only earthly perspective, and to follow the Lord’s teaching in our lives. Then, we can have the inner joy only He gives.
PRAYER: O Lord, We need to place our trust in You and in Your word. The richness of the Bible citations above has such wonderful motivation and promise of what You tell us we can anticipate. Had You been a god without the wisdom and ethics You have, our lives would be lost and forgotten. But instead, You are a God Who tells the truth and has great compassion for Your human creation. We thank and praise You for Your attributes and Your deeds, for listening to all of our prayers [1 CH 16: 11]. No other God is like You, and we love You for Your desire to see us peaceful, and with deep inner joy. We acknowledge all You are and all You do for us, in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: The Holy Spirit commands me to write about the joy we can discover in taking time to understand God’s blessing in our own challenges. We must remember that God never does anything for another than righteous reason. Consult PHIL 4: 4-7 and follow the directions He gives us in prayer with eternal perspective. Then, Dear Readers, you will see what I mean. Let me end with 1 THESS 5: 16-22, “Rejoice always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.” 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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