Category Archives: Joy

Pray without ceasing

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How would you respond if I asked you, “What’s the shortest verse in the Bible?” If you answered, “John 11:35,” you’d only be partially right.

If you’re talking about most English translations of Scripture, you’d probably be totally right. Two words. There are several verses with 3 words, but just that one with 2, as far as I know. That verse in the Greek contains 3 words though, and I can point to at least 2 verses with 2 words each — and consecutive verses at that!

Be joyful always; pray continually. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17)

That’s a total of 5 words in English and 4 words in Greek.

So what?

We tend to get hung up sometimes on little things like the location of the shortest verse in the Bible, but consider the message in these 4 words. It is powerful! I’d like to suggest that if you follow the first imperative — rejoice always — you’ll be less likely to get an ulcer. By following the second imperative — pray continually — you won’t necessarily have any more money or better health, but you will have a deeper relationship with the Father.

Isn’t that what we’re here for anyway?

Go to the Light

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Have you ever checked into a motel room and wondered why the only light in the room is one small lamp, or perhaps a couple wall-mounted lamps over the bed? There never seems to be enough light in a motel room. Maybe you feel the same way about your house — never enough light. We want and need plenty of light in our lives, and often turn into a sourpuss after days of not seeing the sun. Our family formerly lived in an area of the U.S. where during the 120 days of November through February, it seemed like 100 of those days were characterized by fog or low clouds. I’m sure the number wasn’t that severe, but there was an awful lot of fog, so it seemed like that much. It was nice to be in a job where I could fly above the clouds and see the light and feel the warmth of the sun.

How about on a spiritual level? Does the economic climate get you discouraged and depressed? Things at work not going well? Where do you look for strength and encouragement? During a time of year where much of the world is focused on Jesus and His birth, it also offers an opportunity to remind ourselves of our true source of Light.

“In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness…The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world” (John 1:4-5 & 9).

“…because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79).

What’s your picture of Jesus as The Light? Someone has pictured Him as a glorious sunrise, flooding light, truth, and grace wherever He went: into the dank corners of the stable where He was born; into the vast, lonely blackness of the wilderness; and into villages and the dusty, shadowed streets of Jerusalem. However you picture Him, He certainly shines the light of forgiveness into our lives, and brightens our eternal future.

Is there darkness in your life where you just yearn for light? We heard a lesson tonight about fear, and how fear prevents us from fulfilling our purpose on earth — to give glory and honor to the One Who put us here. Let the Light of the World truly shine into the darkness of your life, and let the true Light shine through.

(I got the idea for this post from someone else’s blog, but I forgot to take note of where it came from. If these are your words I quoted in the next-to-last paragraph, please write and let me know; I’d like to give you credit.)

Become a Christian and do whatever you want!

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Sort of sounds like an advertisement, doesn’t it? As crazy as it sounds, there is a good bit of truth in that statement. It doesn’t have anything to do with the idea that once you’re saved you can never lose your salvation. It doesn’t have anything to do with tricking people into becoming “Christians” either. I first heard this idea several years ago, and have really come to see it as one of those ideas that the more you think about it, the more it makes sense.

I monitor over 100 blogs every weekday. Most of them I just read the headlines and skip over the story, reading only the ones that really pique my interest. One of the blogs on my list is ChristianPF (which stands for Christian Personal Finance). In a post this week, the author said this:

I have always (and still do believe) that God’s will for our lives will line up with our desires. He often calls people to do things that they may not think they are capable of and along everyone’s journeys there will be moments of pain and discomfort. But, following our passion is often a good first step in finding God’s plan for our lives.

I agree with that, and it meshes very nicely with the idea that as a mature Christian, there is a very real sense in which I can literally do whatever I want to do. As I mature in the faith, my “want to do” list comes more closely aligned with my “need to do” list so that at some point they become one and the same.

Paul tells us that Jesus preached the idea that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). The more we give, the more we realize the truth in that, and the more we want to give. We give because it’s not only the right thing to do, but because it’s what we want to do. That’s just one example, but you can see how this idea fits into all aspects of our life. Of course satan’s still around, tempting us to do things that, as Paul said, “I do not want to do” (Romans 7:20), but what characterizes our day-to-day life are those things that bring us joy and bring God glory.