December 15, 2019
Greetings and blessings to all of you. This is the advent season or the coming of Christ. This week will focus on JOY. The first two weeks were HOPE and LOVE. And the last week is PEACE. In James 1:2 the Word says, “Consider it all joy my brothers when you encounter various trials. And in John 15:11 the Word says, “I have told you these things that you can have the same joy I have. I want your joy to be the fullest joy. Jesus said this when he was on his way to be crucified! But as James said (think about it). Jesus did not get stuck in the moment. He is our example when it comes to Joy. In Heb.12:2 God told us to “Let us look only to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despairing the shame and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” As you recall Jesus sweated great drops of blood- his agony was so severe. And yet it was the joy that was set before Him. What was set before Him? That He would be sitting at the right hand of the throne of God. Can we see beyond our trials, and sufferings? Do you see a blessing in your troubles? Job said, “But He knows the way I take. When He tested me I will come forth as gold.” Your problems are not as bad as Job even though you may feel as if they are; but read Job and reflect. Christians may not always be happy but we can be grounded in a deep and abiding sense of joy. JOY is a fruit of the Spirit. It is formed not by ourselves or by our circumstances but by God. Paul encouraged us to “Rejoice in the Lord Always and Again I say Rejoice.” Joy for us is grounded in spiritual certainty- our faith. When we encounter trials, we are to learn to “think forward to the joyous reality that is beyond.” You may ask what is beyond when I am in physical pain or enduring a crisis? There is always a purpose for and in everything that glorifies God and helps others and, in that God, maybe getting rid of our pride, our selfish ambition, our self-centeredness. In short, Christ does not waste anything. He will use it all to shape and mold us into Christ likeness. Saints you cannot get stuck in the midst of the pain and experience JOY. You have got to think beyond the moment.
With the Love of Christ
First Lady Vivian C. Currie
Pastor ALC