Psalm Screensavers: Psalm 30

Continuing my Book of Psalms art project

Bible Screensaver: Psalm 004

The joy of the Lord is like a great wine...



...it gets better as each year passes.

Everlasting Joy and a Scottish Highland Cow

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Be joyful always

My brother Alan is a great photographer and he recently posted a picture of a Scottish Highland Cow. I’m thinking of creating a poster with it and putting today’s verse below it. The Scottish cow is one of the most somber creatures on earth, which never seems to smile. It has long horns and equally long shaggy red hair. It’s a dearly beloved animal in Scotland and once seen, you never forget them. (I’ve tried to insert Alan’s picture with this devotional).

When Paul writes to the Thessalonian church and urges them to be joyful always, he isn’t ordering them to stick a smile on their faces everywhere they go. There’s nothing worse than meeting Christians with that phony tele-evangelist smile on their faces that you know is incredibly insincere. He’s talking about the joy that we are meant to carry in our hearts each day because we know that we have been saved by Jesus. Of all people on earth, Christians should have an inward happiness, and a blessed assurance within them.

Now that doesn’t mean that we don’t get upset, or experience sadness and remorse. We wouldn’t be human if we didn’t know those kinds of emotions in our lives. Having an ever present joy, in the midst of all sorts of circumstances, means holding on to that hope in our hearts that Christ will carry us, cherish us, and embrace us during the best of times and the worst of moments.

I don’t know what kind of day you are having right now, or what kinds of issues that you are facing. You may be emotionally stretched to your limit, angry or fearful, insecure and uncertain. Whatever you are experiencing, know that Christ is right there with you, carrying you and loving you, holding you and comforting you. In Him, there is a peace and joy that passes all understanding and knows no barriers or limitations.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being our Savior and for dealing with us lovingly, patiently, and compassionately. We adore You for the many ways in which You cherish and support us. Fill our hearts with Your joy, so that we may become effective servants and witnesses of Your everlasting Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Erin Church daily devotional : Finding Real Joy

Audio version here

John 16:22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. (NIV)

One of the very first Sunday school lessons that I can remember was all about Joy. My teacher asked our class what joy was and we all answered with the usual “being happy,” “smiling,” and “laughing out loud.” She then asked us if we knew what real joy was, which puzzled the class. Hadn’t we just explained it to her?

Our teacher put up the letters J-O-Y on her flannel graph board. “Real joy,” she continued, “happens when you put Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last.” It was a simple lesson, a beautiful truth, and a life-long message. I’ve never forgotten what she said, and I’ve tried to put it into practice throughout my life. And when I do, I rediscover that simple truth again and again.

When Jesus was talking to his disciples about joy, He was referring to the joy of the Resurrection. They didn’t know it yet, but they were going to be a part of a glorious event that would change their lives and the whole world forever. They would have a short time of grief when Jesus died, but through the miracle of Resurrection, their lives would be joyously transformed. They would know of a new joy that would be with them throughout their entire lives – a joy that would last for all of eternity.

These days, some so-called biblical scholars and progressive theologians are trying to take away that joy. They explain the Resurrection in terms of symbolism and refute it as an actual reality. They make Jesus out to be a great teacher, but not the Savior and Lord that you and I know. Because of their own academic disillusionment, they have become joy suckers of the Faith that once inspired them. The sad thing is this: the more they try to rationalize the Gospels, they less joy they feel in their hearts. They sour the sacred scriptures and end up academically alone. Instead of putting Jesus first, they have given their own research the priority. In the process, they lose their joy in Christ and let go of their faith in God.

So what’s the lesson for today? The same as it was for me almost 45 years ago. If you want real joy in your life, put Jesus first, others second, and yourself last. Try it. You’ll find it really works!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, in the midst of all our busy-ness, help us to put You first in our lives. Teach us to take care of others second, and give us the will to put ourselves last. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.