I was sitting in my kitchen, chatting with my brother and my Mom. My brother and I were cracking up over a silly joke, bouncing around the room and being ridiculous (this was a few years ago, not that we don't do this still). Mom turned to us with a smile, poked me and asked rhetorically, "Why are you kids so d
arn happy?" I was holding a box of Wheat Thins in my hand, but without thinking I threw up both my arms and said, "It's because we've got the Lord!" Crackers came showering down around us (like Manna? Hm...no.) and my mom began crying with laughter.
This is just a fun story from my childhood, but it contains a truth. Disclaimer: I do not think that the purpose of Christianity is to make you happy- happiness is not even a requirement to the faith. I do have something to say, though, about Joy.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4
Not much to question about this verse. The command is clear and stated twice. We, as Christians, are instructed to rejoice in the Lord. And why wouldn't we rejoice? We have everything you could ever need to rejoice about! We have a purpose here on earth, we have LOVE greater than any other and we have
eternal life.
Further, we have all of this through the
Gospel. Gospel = Good News! And by that equal sign, I meant to say that the meaning of the word gospel is "good news." Yes, the gospel is actually the best news...ever!
Now, I don't know how you live. I know about myself and some of the people around me. I don't even really know about Christians in America...there are a lot of them and I'm not going to try to make a blanket statement about all of us. But, for you, do you live believing that the Gospel actually is
good news?
If you want to see some Christians who lived this way, check out Acts and all of the letters in the New Testament (My suggestion: Philippians). Paul, Peter etc were sold out on the good news of the Gospel. Paul so much so that he says in prison he rejoices for God's good purpose and deliverance (Philippians 1).
Earlier this year I was convicted that the Gospel of Christ--that Jesus died for my sins and
rose from the dead, breaking the shackles of death and sin--is truly
good news. I needed a wake up to the splendor, beauty, majesty and good-ness of this gospel. Thankfully, God is waking me up. My prayer is that He never lets the Gospel grow dull to me. And I don't want my joy to be ashamed--the outflow of my conviction is sharing the gospel with others. Looking back on the episode of the flying Wheat Thins in my kitchen, I now see that my response is something I hope to never lose (minus the mess of crackers).
I hope and pray that other Christians live convicted that the Gospel is good news. If you feel dry, I would encourage you to ask God for joy -- Joy in the true treasure we posses through the Word of God.
Do you find joy in the gospel? Do you think that joy in the gospel is something that Christians should focus on, or a by-product of living for Christ?
Comments (6)
Intentional joy is something I need to practice more. I'm a natural complainer--I'll find the one little thing in my life that isn't exactly how I want it, at focus on that.
When really I should be focusing on the life-changing, attitude-inverting power of the gospel. As the hymn says, "No guilt in life, no fear in death: this is the power of Christ in me." That's hella awesome news, and should be enough to keep me joyous.
Nehemiah 8:10b "...for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
thanks for the post!
of course, i find joy in the gospel.. the gospel brings me courage to live on and to do what is right within my daily life.. without those strong powerful words.. i don't know where my comfort would be
We can have joy in the midst of pain, grief, and sorrow. I'm coming up on the second anniversary of my wife's death. Throughout the dying period and the time after I have not lost sight of Whose I am and why I exist. I haven't forgotten that I've been rescued from the insanity of a baseless life. But I have been hurting worse than I knew a person could hurt and still survive.
Although I didn't keep a constant focus on the joy set before me (I couldn't), I did touch on it from time to time. And during this period of my life our Father and Forgiver has shown Himself to be stronger, tenderer, and more loving than I could ever know or experience any other way.
So, yes, I find joy in the gospel. Because of what Jesus did I can see clearly in place where I was previously unable to see at all; death has lost its sting and will actually be received with open arms when my time comes; and I now know Love and can love in a real and meaningful, unselfish way.
One's joy must be kept in mind and visited in the forefront of one's thinking so that it doesn't die, but it need not be kept there. It is a product of our salvation, not a by-product of living for Christ. However, it is bellowsed by living with Him, in conversation with and obedience to Him in whatever little ways we can. Every fear we face, every bit of shame we embrace and offer up, every painful experience we give to Him He redeems and turns into strength, power, and weapons of His love.
His love for us is more to be focused on than the resulting joy. It is His love than changes our hearts and heats up our joy, that heals our hearts and inclines us to obedience to Him, that fills us to overflowing so that we have something to offer our dry and hurting Brothers and Sisters as well as those who don't know Him yet. So focus on His love and His wonderful character rather than what they produce.
@AngelBeast777@xanga - wow. thank you for sharing that-God definitely just taught me through your words.
looking back through an old prayer journal, i found this in a margin...and i love the way it illustrates the joy that we should be finding in the Lord
"it sounds so simple, but everythings the same yet different with this whole new perspective. you know how you would feel on christmas or something, when you got a toy you were really excited about playing with? or a shirt you couldnt wait to wear? everyday with God is like that...only better...and im just beginning to realize it"
[cec..you are too amazing...]