Rejoice in the Lord

Joy is one of the most attractive fruits of the Spirit. After all, everyone wants joy. Or do they? Even joy can become a burden if it is taken wrongly. If we see joy as some perfect, unbroken happy feeling it can become impossible to fully maintain and a perpetual source of guilt. And it is easy to end up discouraged or faking it. But even Jesus, the perfect Man, is called the Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53:3), and He expressed that sorrow at appropriate times (Mark 14:32-42; Luke 19:41-44; John 11:35). Now there are Christians who seem to reflect only a brittle legalism and little in the way of joy, and this must be avoided. But we need to approach the question carefully. We can rejoice in God (Philippians 4:4; Romans 5:11; Psalms 100:1) and what He has done to save us (Luke 10:20; John 15:11; Romans 5:2). We can also rejoice in the good things God gives us (John 16:23,24; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; James 1:17). We can even, though it is difficult, rejoice in times of trouble, knowing we can trust God to bring us through (John 16:33; James 1:2-4; Psalms 30:5). But none of this should be seen as a kind of mindless happiness pill that will make us feel no pain. And real joy comes not from working it up, but from looking to God and what He has done for us. Then we can have a deep joy that persists even in the midst of sorrows. Rather than a superficial one that pretends sorrows do not exist.

Mine and Not Mine

To live for God we need to trust in His power. The great enemy to this is depending on ourselves. It is not enough to recognize everything depends on the power of God. If we are not on guard against it, we find self-reliance continually trying to worm its way back into our life. Sometimes its greatest ally is our believing we have the thing settled, making us unprepared for the next attack.

We need to start by remembering that we are saved by Christ's work for us, accomplished without our aid (1 Peter 1:24,25; Colossians 2:13,14; 2 Corinthians 5:21). We are sinners (Romans 3:23; Jeremiah 17:9; Isaiah 64:6) who receive this by putting our faith in Christ (Romans 4:4,5; Ephesians 2:8,9; Philippians 3:9). Even this is the result of God's working in us to bring us to Himself (John 6:44; Acts 16:14; 1 Corinthians 2:14). Now I am convinced that God specifically chooses who will be saved (Acts 13:48; Ephesians 1:4; Romans 8:29,30), but no matter what you believe on that, it is important to realize that a work of God is necessary in our lives for us to come to Him. Scripture also says that we are changed by the power of God working in us (2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 2:13; Ephesians 2:10). Again, we are required to respond (Romans 12:1,2; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:18), but this response requires God's work, which is necessary for us to change (John 15:5; Romans 7:14; 8:8).

Now some take the attitude that God saves us and then leaves us on our own to live for Him. But we can also believe there is something we need to do to get God to start working in us. And that this thing, no matter how small, will depend entirely on us. We can end up on the treadmill of trying harder and harder to get it to work (I have been there). Also, it is important to remember that we are still in process and have not yet arrived in our quest to follow God (Philippians 3:12-16; Hebrews 12:1,2; 1 Timothy 4:7,8). For if we believe we have reached some plateau of holiness, even if we believe it is wholly God's work, we will begin to consider that it belongs to us. And whether we believe we have reached this level at salvation itself or as a second experience, we will have to continually convince ourselves that we have attained it; if not, our faith will take a nosedive. Therefore, while we need to be confident of God's working in us, we need to also realize that we are still imperfect people who have not yet arrived (2 Corinthians 3:5,6; 4:7; 1 John 1:8-10). But more than that, we need to turn away from ourselves and focus on Christ. I believe that C. S. Lewis was right in concluding that true humility is not a matter of putting ourselves down, but of focusing on something other than ourselves, on God and other people (1 Corinthians 4:3-5; Romans 12:3; 14:4).

A Touch of Humor - The Remainder

What should we do when the thing we thought was strong proves not to be? How can we prepare for this?

Old Erich Proverb - Anchor

When we hit the real storms of life, it makes a difference how firmly we are anchored beforehand in God and His truth.

A Voice from the Past - Irenaeus

For the heavenly treasuries are indeed great: God cannot be measured in the heart, and incomprehensible is He in the mind; He who holds the earth in the hollow of His hand. Who perceives the measure of His right hand? Who knoweth His finger? Or who doth understand His hand,—that hand which measures immensity; that hand which, by its own measure, spreads out the measure of the heavens, and which comprises in its hollow the earth with the abysses; which contains in itself the breadth, and length, and the deep below, and the height above of the whole creation; which is seen, which is heard and understood, and which is invisible? And for this reason God is “above all principality, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named,” of all things which have been created and established. He it is who fills the heavens, and views the abysses,
who is also present with every one of us. For he says, “Am I a God at hand, and not a God afar off? If any man is hid in secret places, shall I not see him?” For His hand lays hold of all things, and that it is which illumines the heavens, and lightens also the things which are under the heavens, and trieth the reins and the hearts, is also present in hidden things, and in our secret [thoughts], and does openly nourish and preserve us.

Irenaeus, 125-202 AD,Against Heresies, Book VI, Chapter X1X, 2 (The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus, Philip Schaff, Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2001, p. 705)

What are the implications of the greatness of God to our understanding of Him? How does this fit with His being close to us?

There Should Be a Law

One of the common, knee-jerk reactions to social problems is to try to pass a law. Surely, if we just had the right law on the books, it would solve things. But this reflects a rather simplistic concept of what the civil law can and cannot do. Now law, as it comes from God, serves various functions. It shows us our sinfulness and that we are in need of a Redeemer (Romans 3:19,20; 5:20,21; Galatians 3:21-26). When we have come to Christ, it gives us guidelines for how we are to behave (Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:13,14; James 1:22-25), but we can only do this through the power of God working in us (2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 2:13; Colossians 1:29). But the civil aspect of the law is much more limited. Its purpose is to limit blatant and overt evil (Romans 13:1-5; Deuteronomy 13:11; 21:21). Martin Luther likened it to a muzzle on a wild beast. It does not change the nature of the beast, but it keeps it from biting you.

Now some sort of civil law is necessary to protect society from anarchy. But we must not expect too much of it. We cannot simply pass a law and expect everyone to automatically obey it. Therefore, laws work best when the clear majority of the people are behind them. They then act to restrain the few who are in violation of the general consensus. But if too many people simply flaunt the law, it can be extremely difficult to enforce. This can put a Christian in something of a complicated dilemma. We may feel strongly that a particular practice is wrong and needs to be changed. But we may be out of step with those around us. Should we work to change the law even if we know the law is unenforceable? Or do we passively sit by and accept whatever the majority happens to endorse? Both courses are somewhat too simplistic.

God requires His people to stand up for what is right, even if it is not always well received (Matthew 14:3-12; 1 Kings 21:17-26; 2 Samuel 12:1-15). But we should be prepared to face a long process. We should also be prepared, not just to pass laws, but to convince people. We should not take the attitude that if we just pass the right laws, everything will be solved. And because of that, we need to pick our fights. We need to firmly and consistently stand against real injustice. But we should beware of getting into fights over trivia. For to do so is to use up effort and resources that should be used for the real fights that are worth fighting. We need to remember the limitations of laws, and if a law cannot do what we want, we need to take a different approach. For the law has its uses, but it cannot change the heart and mind.

Facing the Devil

How do we face the work of the devil and his minions in the world and in our lives? Now there are those who exaggerate the work of demons, seeing them everywhere, and those who minimize it, seeing it nowhere. But what do we do if, after careful consideration, we feel we or someone we know is facing a demonic attack? The first thing we need to do is submit ourselves to the power and care of God with genuine humility (James 4:6,7; 1 Peter 5:5-10; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6). Christ has already defeated the demonic powers on the cross, and He is our victory over them (Colossians 2:13-15; 1 John 4:4; John 16:11). Therefore, we need to face the devil's schemes trusting in God and His power (Proverbs 3:5,6; Psalms 127:1,2; 37:3-6). But we should remember the fate of the sons of Sceva (Acts 19:13-17) and not trust in our own capabilities or use Jesus' name lightly as a magic talisman.  Now we should not see confronting the devil as the quick fix for all our problems and everything that ails us. But if we must face him, we should do so based on a trust firmly fixed in the power of God.