While I was with them, I protected them and
kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. I am
coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so
that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.
R A Torrey said,
“There is more joy in
Jesus in 24 hours than there is in the world in 365 days. I have tried them
both.”
Surely, we all recognise the truth of that sentence. We
have possibly known times when we were at odds with the wishes of our heavenly
Father. Times when we just knew that God wanted us to do one thing when we
wanted to do something else, it’s during those times that we find ourselves at
a really low point in life.
There can be no joy when we
resist the voice that is telling us what we should be doing, the only joy is in
obedience. When we have been opposing the whisper in our mind, then decide to
follow it instead of fighting against it, the relief is tangible. That is when
we realise how heavy the voice of God is, we carry the weight with us as long
as we hold out against it, then when we finally accept God’s will, we
understand that God’s will is paramount to our wellbeing.
This is supposed to be a
time of joy but here in this complex there is strife between two tenants, both
of whom think they are the ones in the right and trying to get support from others. They both
lost on that attempt, nobody is paying any attention to them because when it
was suggested to show a Christmas film on Saturday,
they both had a hissy-fit. No joy there then.
I just had to play carols
quietly on my phone at mealtimes and what do you think?
Everyone hummed or sang to the
tunes. By the end of lunch, they were enjoying
themselves and decided to watch the film anyway. The two warring
tenants, misery etched on their faces, strutted off to their own flats. I had
to leave them all to watch the film so I could finish this manuscript.
It’s so much easier to be
joyful when your eyes are on God, the Father of Jesus who gives His name to
this celebration of His birth. Can we all try to bring the joy of this Holy
Season to all we meet day by day. A lot of people need someone to display HOPE,
PEACE, JOY and LOVE to them in order to feel the love of God through Jesus.
Hopefully by the next
thought, peace will reign in this place.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, When You
sent Your Son on that first Christmas day You knew what You were setting in
motion. You knew what Jesus was going to face in the fullness of time. We are
aware that we did not deserve for Jesus to have to carry all of our sins but
know that it was the only way You could forgive us. We thank You for the
awesome gift You sent to us that first Christmas day, help
us to share the gift with those who don’t yet know
You or Your greatest gift. So many ‘celebrate’ Christmas without knowing what
Christmas is about, please help us to make Jesus known to our neighbours. In
Jesus blessed name, amen
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