“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." - Nehemiah 8:10b
Hello Cornerstone FRamily!
“Let us rejoice with one another, that in a world where there are a great many good and happy things for men to do, God has given us the best and happiest, and made us preachers of His Truth."
– R. M. Edgar”
As the above quote summarized from Paul (Eph 3:8) illustrates, many good things are at our beckoning in this world. The issue is not with the availability of these things, but with the opportunity for those things to give us joy. When we substitute the things of the world for sleep, family time, or spiritual growth, to name a few, that is nothing short of joy-robbing idolatry. Consider the paraphrased words of Warren Wiersbe from his book, On Being a Servant of God, as he lists the six areas through which we can find righteous joy.
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” - Psalm 16:11
First and foremost, I think, is the joy of pleasing the Lord because you’re doing what He wants you to do…Pleasing God ought to be your supreme motive for service. If it is, you’ll hear His “well done” when you stand before Him in glory (Matt. 25:21).
There’s also the joy of growing more like the Master as you do His will… Remember what M’Cheyne wrote: “It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus.”
The third joy is the joy of helping others come to know Jesus Christ and live for Him. No matter what tasks He calls you to do, God will use them to help somebody if you do them in the power of the Spirit and for His glory.
That leads to the fourth joy of knowing that, as you serve the Lord, nothing happens to you except what God ordains. Paul wrote his most joyful letter while a prisoner in Rome awaiting possible execution. “But I want you know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the Gospel” (Phil. 1:12)
Another joy is the wonderful fellowship you have with other people who are serving God. What an enriching experience it is to belong to the fellowship of service and know that others are praying for you just as you pray for them!
Lastly, [there is] the joy of knowing that your service for Christ will last eternally: “He who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17). Most of the people you meet day after day are either wasting their lives or merely spending their lives, but God’s servants have the privilege of investing their lives in what is eternal. The oft-quoted words of Jim Elliot say it perfectly: “He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
Life! Joy! Pleasures! Who enjoys these priceless blessings? Those who walk on God’s path, live in God’s presence, and seek God’s pleasures.]
Within these words we find a road map to intentional living in our daily lives. Are you going through the paces in a mundane routine demanding little in the form of service for others and God? Or can you claim the promises of the Word which says, “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us” (Eph. 3:20).
Live a joyful life celebrating the fabric of who we are in relationships and interactions (Zoom, phone calls, etc.) giving all the glory to God and watch how your world flourishes!
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” - Philippians 4:4
If you are struggling with this and want to know more about the promised abundant life, please do not hesitate to email or call!
For Him,
jeff