The Choice of Joy

Biblical Joy is not an emotion. Biblical Joy goes deeper than human emotion. True Joy is rooted in something that is not human at all. True Joy’s foundation is Jesus Christ sprit living in the heart Christian. Joy is not of us this makes Joy transcendent of our situation. Joy dose not come form us or our universe this explains resiliency of Joy. Since true Joy is extra to our human experience. This means that Joy is a gift, a gift of God to the believer. If Joy is a gift given by God, than the receiver of the gift has a choice to receive and use the gift. This means Joy is a choice. That is why in the bible we are commanded to have Joy. Since Joy is of God, then faking joy then is sin. Joy is not smiley all of the time. Joy is like a home owner getting a great report form a building inspector. The home owner has assurance form an outside source that his house is not going to fall. That is the reason that when I have sin in my life I “lose the Joy of my salvation.” I lose the assurance of my salvation when I lose my Joy. I do not lose my salvation. In other word Joy my ace in hole. I have confidence when I carry the gift of Joy with me through my life. In my life I hear God saying, “Get the sin out, pick up the gift my Joy, get out into your life and live for me.” My prayer is that I my be able to do this.

Any Second

Heb 1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. ESV

After the fall God set up means for us humans to have relationship him. This is shown in the Law. When His people would stray to their sin, then He would sin a messenger to His people to bring them back to the Law. These messengers in the Old Testament where known as prophets. Some of the prophets where heeded, some ignored. The calling of God to the prophets was to go and tell. The call to His people was to hear and repent. It is interesting that the prophets calling starts with movement, then communication. The people response starts with communication, then movement. What is the significance of this? I do not know yet. I know my knowledge is too limited to tell. But, we are not in the Old Testament. Here in Hebrews we see that we right now in this time we are spoken to by the Son (master.) We are spoken to by Jesus, which is exciting to me. For him to speak must mean certain things. One, Jesus cares enough to speak to me. Two, Jesus must have something to say to me. Three, if Jesus speaks and He something to say to me, and then He expects me to listen. “Heir of all things,” what does that mean? It means when everything in/on this world belongs to Jesus. If it all belongs to Jesus in the end then it must belong to Him now. This is where the Christian concept of stewardship enters. The concept of stewardship is nothing is truly owned by us. We are just taking care of what is ours in this world. So, we are just taking care of Jesus positions. Look what the writer says next. The writer says that Jesus was there at the creation of the world. The writer just calls Jesus the begging and the end. Jesus created everything and He will clam all of his creation at the end of time. This is a huge statement that the writer is going to have to back up.

What an amazing two verse that has to change my life as I sit here. In two verses all of Christ following is summed up. Jesus is the begging of my life, I screw up my life, He is the owner of my life, and He will be the end of my life. I need to keep my life in line with the owner of my life’s goal. I steal form Jesus all of the time. Any second that steal form Jesus is a second of sin. Any second, anytime, no matter what my physical condition is. Any second anytime, no matter how other people treat me. Anytime, any second, no matter what happening in life is a second in sin. Wow I am convicted right now. I need to meditate on this more. Conviction sucks, but, the fruits of conviction are worth it.

Brad

I am an Ass

Today I learned something about myself. I was in the dinning room eating a salad at a table fill with fellow students. After I had finished my salad, I decided to pop a rubber glove I had. So, I did. Instantly and in great comedic timing, after the glove popped I was called an “Ass” by a fellow student. This brought about laughter by my fellow classmates, and embarrassment on my behalf.

The first thought through my head was punch him in the face. Then I talked myself out of it saying it was just a word. Second, thought was sit back and wait for an instance that you can embarrass him in return. Third, was just to let it go because he was right.

The reason that I popped the glove was for me. I was hoping that someone would jump at the unexpected noise. I had planned to laugh at them. I had planned to cause them embarrassment.

I was a being an ass. They extremely honest classmate was right.

What I learned. I learned that I have grown a long way. At one time in my life I would have punched him. At another time I would have returned the favor. At this time in my spiritual growth I have learned from my sin. That is what brought me joy in being an ass.

Brad