Finding Joy


“Not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” Romans 5:11


     She looked old.  As people passed, they turned their eyes away from the very aged woman.  The fortunate ones did notice the twinkle in her eyes which made her beautiful to them.  The sparkling twinkle was joy.  Joy, the internal emotion of contentment and happiness, made the dear old lady look youthful to those who saw and understood her joy.  Where can one find such beauty?  Where did she find such joy?

     I loved visiting Mrs. Laura Jane.  I enjoyed seeing her and listening to her.  There was so much joy in her life as she crept closer to being 100 years old.  She was old and wrinkled, and I thought she grew more beautiful each year.   Joy came from within her spirit and radiated to those who could see the beauty.  Some missed seeing her joy because they did not understand.

     Once I heard someone ask Mrs. Laura Jane, “Isn’t it hard to be so old?”

     She replied, “No, if I wasn’t old, I would not be here.”

     From where did that inward beauty come?  How can we all find the joy that caught the attention of some?  For Mrs. Laura Jane, finding joy came with a simple formula.

     Joy is an internal emotion.  Joy comes from within our soul.  When we have peace, hope, faith, and love, joy fills us with the spirit of God.  This joy should make us sing with happiness.  Stop and read Romans 5:1-11 and see how you can find the same joy that filled Mrs. Laura Jane.

     Finding joy comes with the knowledge of Jesus Christ.  We have peace because we are justified by faith. (1)  We have access to God through Jesus (2) who died on the cross to wash away our sins.  Therefore, we have many reasons to rejoice.  Even in times of tribulation, we can rejoice, because we can learn from those tough experiences developing patience, wisdom, and hope. (3&4)  With hope, we will not be ashamed of the gospel since we have God’s gift of the Holy Spirit (5) within our hearts.  God loved us so much that while we were filled with sin he sent his only son to die for us. (8)  So, because of God’s love, we are justified by Jesus’ blood and saved from the wrath of God’s judgment.  There is much more – Jesus lives! (10)  He lives, so we can have joy in God. 

     Finding joy comes when you say yes to Jesus.  Believe.  Faith in God will bring you peace, hope, love, and an everlasting joy.  Open your Bible to the book of John and experience Jesus.  Open your heart and let God’s love fill you with peace, hope, faith, love, and joy.   Also, may your dream be same as mine.  When I’m old and wrinkled, I hope God’s joy will be seen in me.


“And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” Romans 5:11
 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Gift of the Light

Image
  As the Light of Day rises, the world awakes for a new day with new beginnings and new hope. As the sun rises, nature comes alive with the sound of birds singing and the rustling of all life awakening. From the darkness of night, the Light of Day gives new hope with new beginnings in the day to come. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness  And the darkness comprehends it not. John 1:4,5 John describes Jesus as the Light, the Creator, the Son of God, and the Lamb of God. Matthew and Luke begin the life of Jesus as the baby in a manger. Mark starts with John the Baptist baptizing Jesus. Then, we have the gospel of John. John begins with the reason God sent his Son.  Jesus came to give life. Yet, they did not understand. They expected a majestic king but got a baby born in a simple manger. They expected a ruler leading them to defeat their enemies but got a humble man teaching the way to God and healing bodies and souls. In ...
Read more

What Christians Should Do

 The USA just celebrated its 250th birthday. What a celebration! I have enjoyed seeing how everyone celebrated this milestone in our country. Over and over in the last few months, the United States has been proclaimed to be a Christian Nation founded on Christian standards. This has caused debates, and I'm not going to join the debate. However, many of the first arrivals from Europe came to live out their Christian faiths. There are churches in almost every town. Go for a drive along the country roads of America, and you will see old church buildings along the way. The Christian faith has grown across our country. Yet, how many of us live out our Christian faith? Just how many of us are dedicated to living out what Christians should do? As I read Paul's letters recorded in the Bible, I see where he reminds the churches how they should live and what they should be doing. Paul repeats the message of salvation through faith. God sent His Son, Jesus, to be our sacrificial Lamb. Jes...
Read more

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS DAILY

  In the gospels, Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23 ESV)  In this lent season, many give up something as a sacrifice. They deny themselves pleasure for forty days. Then, after the season of lent, it ends. Considering Jesus' words, 'take up your cross daily.' There is no end date in Jesus' words to the disciples. Matthew extends Jesus' words, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosever will save his life shall lose it, and whosever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange of his soul?" (16:24-26 KJV) Strong words. Consider your sacrifices. Are you following in the steps of Jesus? What are you sacrificing? After the disciples received the Holy Ghost, they completely...
Read more