For The Joy

 

As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Luke 9:51

     Jesus knew His time on earth was coming to an end. He knew the anguish He would soon be facing.. He sets out resolutely. Sometimes we need that determination, the discipline to put one foot in front of the other. There is fear or grief, worry and despair, uncertainty and conflict. Somehow, we do it. One small step at a time. We move ahead.

Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.  Isaiah 50:7

     Jesus cries out to God in the garden of Gethsemane in anguish, His sweat turns to blood. The only time in eternity He is separated from the Father will come upon the cross, when the world darkens until the work is finished. The suffering of our Lord reminds us. He has been through it all and more.

     We have loved ones in heaven. We know the end of the story. Can we press on? Here are some amazing words to hang onto today:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

     Jesus saw the joy beyond the cross. We can see the joy beyond the pain if we fix our eyes on Jesus, the perfecter of our faith, rising above our circumstances with a love beyond words.

Dear Father in heaven,

Remind us of the joy set before us as we struggle and strain through some of our days. Bless us and our families and friends and brothers and sisters in the faith, as we turn to Your Son Jesus. We can rise above with Him.

Amen

I so appreciate all of you reading God’s word with me daily.  Vacation time is here. See you on October 13.  Keep praying. Keep believing. Keep loving.

 

Yesterday, Today, Forever

 

     To rise above, we need to trust and believe God’s promises, praising Him without understanding the world around us. The word of God replaces darkness with light. The word of God is alive, active and powerful. (Hebrews 4) Jesus is the word of God. And His word lived among us. (John 1) Jesus brings joy and understanding.

     When we accept Jesus as Savior, we are “justified.” It is “just as if” we had never sinned. In that moment of true faith, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit forever!

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1;13

     But He is not done with our lives on earth. Justification is past, and sanctification begins. This is the process of setting us apart from the world and growing us in the faith, making us into the image of Christ. The Word (Jesus) transforms our lives and as we become more and more His disciples we can grow in the fruit of the Spirit. We are sanctified in the present and throughout our lives.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22

     One day we will receive our glorification and our resurrection bodies and live forever with Jesus. There is never a moment when He is apart from us from our moment of belief until we step into heaven. You are made right with God. He is working in your life right at this moment and one day we will be praising Him with our loved ones among the angels. Feel the hope and joy. You are His!

After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. Revelation 19:1

We are justified by Christ, sanctified through Christ and glorified with Christ. Amen!