Tuesday
Jul292008
Real Joy
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
I
must admit, after the incredible day we experienced on Sunday, it has
been difficult to settle down and think about anything else. For those
of you who weren't able to join us, it's almost difficult to put into
words the opportunity it was to be part of what God is doing in the
midst of our CenterPoint family. Cheers of affirmation and clapping could be heard across Sand Lake as
family and friends witnessed the dedication of little Dillon and
Connor, and the baptism and public profession of faith of six of our
brothers and sisters in Christ. Even neighbors across the lake joined
in the celebration offering encouraging cheers. Jonathan led us in
singing and the Spirit of the Lord was surely in this place.
As
I have been revisiting all that took place on Sunday, along with many
emotions, I would say I have experienced a real sense of JOY. In John
17:13 Jesus said, "But now I come to you, and these things I speak in
the world, that they may have my JOY fulfilled in themselves". If
there is anything that should characterize the life of a believer, I
should think it would be JOY. Jesus spoke often times to His disciples
about His joy being complete and full in them.......and we, too, are
His disciples. The disciples were filled with joy as they realized
they were children of God and joint heirs with Christ. They had been
dead in their sins and then were made alive in Christ. Death also no
longer had a hold on them. How could they have been anything
but JOYFUL with such a salvation experience? And, here we were on Sunday, witnessing parents dedicate their lives and those of their
two precious little ones, along with each of those baptized, JOYFUL
with their public profession of the same experience.........a symbol of
the new life they have in Christ, the old passed away and the new has
come by emerging and dying to the old and coming out of the water a new creature and heir with Christ!
Jesus
didn't pray that we would be merely 'happy', or that we would escape
grief and suffering. Happiness is fleeting and is produced by the
world, but JOY is deep and abiding and really permeates everything you
do. He prayed that we would have the same JOY the Father had given to
Him. This kind of JOY comes only from a committed, deep relationship
with the Lord. This joy comes out of that firmly established
relationship that can't be affected by circumstances. As an heir with
Christ, this is our birthright. I pray that not one of us will be
satisfied or settle for a joyless life. It's that JOY that will
attract others, so let's let it shine so we can be that beacon on a
hill and reach the Valley for Jesus Christ!
THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH
In Him, Sandy
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