Rejoice And Be Glad!

"Hallelujah!
    For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
    and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
    and his bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean,
    was given her to wear."
                                          Rev 19:6b-8

We have a lot to rejoice in. St. John exiled on Patmos for his faith did not give up hope. St. Paul did not give up hope. The many saints before us never gave up hope. They looked to the day when they would be reconciled to God our Father and our Lord Jesus the Christ in the home that Christ prepared for us.

Life can be pretty confusing and tough at times. In times like those, remember, that today will pass and tomorrow will come whether we are here in this world or in the Kingdom prepared for us. For all who believe in Jesus and his gifts of forgiveness and salvation for us, life will go on. It is eternal.

By the blood of Jesus we have been reconciled to God and one another even now. So, rejoice and be glad and give God the glory! Give God the glory in all that you say and think and do. Whatever you do, do it as if to the Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ecclesiastes 8 - Eat, Drink, Be Glad; Live Life

"So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun." (Eccl 8:15 NIV)

Would this not be a wonderful way for the world to live: for everyone to be able to enjoy our daily lives; to eat, drink, and be glad; even as we go about the business of providing for ourselves, our families, even our neighbors? Sadly, it is not so. Those who prefer to spend their time stirring up strife, destroying the lives of others, are always around. The wicked need to have things their way. Whatever they think is good for them is the way that they will go regardless of the trouble and harm it may bring to others. They do not understand that "....wickedness will not release those who practice it." (Eccl 8:8) There will, sadly, be consequences. Consequences not just to those who actually carry out things such as mass murders, but to those who secretly plot against their neighbors to cause problems in their daily lives. Their wicked ways will turn upon them.

Thanks be to God, that God in His infinite mercy, sent His only begotten Son, so that all who believe might not perish, but have eternal life in His presence, in His Kingdom, where there actually is joy and peace. (John 3:16, Rom 14:17) Repent then... turn from the wickedness in your heart and live life in Christ. Live life in the one who truly loves you and was willing to be persecuted, tortured, and die for you. The wisdom of living life in Christ will bring a brightness to your face and change your hard appearance as well as the hardness of your heart. Live Life! And... let others do the same.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 53 - Ignorance Is Not Necessarily Bliss!

I have to admit, I sometimes lose it when people tell me that there is no God.  All I can think are things like (and have actually said on occasion): "Are you stupid, or what?"  "Do you really want to deny Christ?"  "Not a good idea!  Not a good idea, at all!" 

My reaction to being told that there is no God, really depends on the person, the time, the place and the Spirit. I can be more graceful when it is called for.  It all depends....

I remember one recent conversation. My response was something to the effect of:  it really doesn't matter whether you believe in my God or not.  God is and His existence does not depend on whether you accept or deny Him, but your existence does depend on Him!  God does not need you to believe in Him.  You need Him.  There is no other salvation than the one who has come out of Zion.  Go ahead, turn away from Him.  Your rejection of this One, does not diminish Him.  It only diminishes you.  But, if you really want to live life - then rethink your position and repent! May the God that you don't believe in, rescue you from your unbelief!

So you don't believe in God?  Then we will pray for you.  Ignorance is not necessarily bliss. When the King of Glory returns to take His children unto Him, we will rejoice and be glad!  What will you be doing?

God's Peace - Pr. J