JOYFUL LIVING -1 TIMOTHY 6:17-19**********
OUR SEARCH FOR JOY TAKES US MANY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS-DREAM HOLIDAYS, SHOPPING, FOOD, CLOTHES, FRIENDS, CARS-THE LIST IS ALMOST ENDLESS. MY GUESS IS THAT IF YOU PERKED UP AT THE MENTION OF SHOPPING, HOLIDAYS, OR CARS, YOU MIGHT HAVE FELT A TWINGE OF GUILT.
WE OFTEN VIEW THE JOY OF TEMPORAL THINGS AS LESS THAN SPIRITUAL AND SHOW OUR DISCOMFORT BY APOLOGIZING FOR NICE THINGS; "I WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT THIS, BUT SOMEONE GAVE ME A WONDERFUL DEAL." AS IF REAL CHRISTIANS NEVER EAT QUICHE, DRIVE COOL CARS, OR WEAR DESIGNER CLOTHES!
NO DOUBT GOD'S GREATEST GIFT TO US IS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS SON JESUS. IT'S A GIFT BEYOND COMPARISON. JESUS PROMISED THAT WHEN WE ABIDE IN HIM WE WILL EXPERIENCE THE FULFILLMENT OF HIS JOY AND WITHOUT THAT KIND OF DEEP, ABIDING JOY THE REST OF LIFE IS MUNDANE AT BEST.
BUT SCRIPTURE ALSO CASTS THE JOY OF THE LORD IN TERMS OF TEMPORAL THINGS. THE ENJOYMENT OF "THINGS" CAN BE A POSITIVE SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE. WHEN WE RECOGNIZE THAT HE "GIVES US RIGHTLY ALL THINGS TO ENJOY" AND THAT "EVERY GOOD GIFT... IS FROM ABOVE" OUR HEARTS SHOULD BE FULL OF THANKFULNESS AND PRAISE. THIS, IN AND OF ITSELF, IS AN ACT OF WORSHIP! ENJOY THE GIVER AND THE GIFTS.
WE THANK THEE, LORD, FOR DAILY FOOD,
FOR PLENTEOUS STORE OF EARTHLY GOOD;
FOR LIFE AND HEALTH WE STILL POSSESS,
WITH HOUSE AND HOME SO RICHLY BLESSED.
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER DELIGHTS IN BRINGING US DELIGHT. SO LET'S LIVE JOYFULLY FOR GOD.
HAVE A HAPPY, BLESSED DAY*********
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