Good morning,
The Joy in serving Jesus
In a world sinking deeper and deeper into chaos, there are still many islands controlled by God’s wonderful peace. One of the greatest joys that we can share with the troubled people around us is that our God, the God of the Bible, is willing and able to supply his powerful peace no matter how troubled our surroundings. David knew that peace when he wrote, Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!(Ps.32:1,2) Instead of being driven by guilt and the deep down fear of sin’s consequences, our Savior has paid the price for our sins on the cross and has given us eternal life as his free gift to all who will put their trust in the salvation he has offered us. As God’s children, we have a peace with God that gives us a completely different perspective on all the events in our lives. Jesus is not only our Savior, he is also Lord of all. He is the one who has complete control of all the many complex issues of life. While we look forward to sharing God’s glory when we get to heaven, we also know that the Lord will help us to grow in our faith by allowing problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. (Rom.5:3,4) As God’s children we learn to welcome these challenges because, this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.(Rom.5:5)
What sets us apart from the driven, angry, demands that we allow to control our lives, is the understanding that the Lord gave us when Isaiah said, LORD, you will grant us peace; all we have accomplished is really from you. O LORD our God, others have ruled us, but you alone are the one we worship.(Isa.26:12,13) While ungodly people around us live with a growing sense of doom, we who live by faith in the God of the Bible are growing more confident in the reality of a future lived out in God’s loving presence. We may have to live under a cloud of disrespect and anger now, but soon we will be living in the presence of full acceptance and joyful service that will go on all throughout all the rest of eternity. Now we may be seen as foolish people who upset the social order of our cultures, but there in heaven we will be seen as bright reflections of God’s glory and his perfect social order. Dear Lord, by the power of your Holy Spirit, may we be islands of hope to those around us who are sinking into hopelessness and despair.
Psalms 32:1 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
Roy Wisner
