Choose Joy – Part 1

This week, Michael writes: Joy and rejoicing are a choice. Joy is not the absence of pain. Rather, it is the presence of God. The challenge is to focus on the Lord and the things of the Spirit of life in Christ. Our calling is to be a disciplined follower of our Lord Jesus Christ. God gives us trials and allows tribulation in our lives so that we can understand that our joy is not in this world, but only in Him. Happiness doesn't impress God. However, when we are joyful despite trials and tribulations, then we can rejoice because His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Life is hard.  We live in a fallen world, but there is peace in the storms of life for the Christian.  In John 16:29-33 Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”  “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Job said, "Man is destined for trouble like the sparks flying upward." According to Jeremiah, The heart of man is desperately wicked. The Holy Scriptures say not to be surprised when we have to endure suffering. Christians throughout history have been the victims of persecution ever since Jesus' Ascension. Jesus said, "Blessed are they when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake for great is your reward in heaven."  

Holiness means to separate according to the purpose for which God has designed us. 

The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines the word “holiness” as: the state of being holy; purity or integrity of moral character; freedom from sin; sanctity. Applied to the Supreme Being – Creator God, holiness denotes perfect purity or integrity of moral character, one of his essential attributes. Applied to human beings, holiness is purity of heart or dispositions; sanctified affections; piety; moral goodness, but not perfect. Sacredness; the state of anything hallowed, or consecrated to God or to his worship; applied to churches or temples. We were never meant for the world's design. Our responsibility is to have an affinity, not for the things of this world, but for the things of heaven ... the things of the Spirit of God, in Christ, in us.

Let’s continue Michael‘s message on Christian joy in the next post.

In Christ, Brian