God is the maker of your soul.
He wants it back under his control.
To curb your hands with which you stole,
His righteousness and joy.
By His Grace
Tag Archives: joy
The Common and the Holy
What’s wrong with the words we use in common speech today? A great deal is wrong with the words we use in common speech today.
American society is no longer built on the Bible’s vocabulary. It is built on what is common to man, not on what is Holy before God.
I don’t point this out to make accusation. I point this out as a matter of fact: That if I am to speak of the things of God, I must use the vocabulary of man. It makes no sense to send a man who speaks a certain language and expect foreigners to understand him.
So if I talk about the things of God, I run the risk of ignorance on the part of the listener. Therefore it is good, sometimes, to paraphrase until a man’s soul strives to understand.
But there are also times when the only words that are of any value, in explaining the things of God, are the very words which God has given to us. One such word that falls, if you will “to the dirt”, between the things of God and the things of man, is “rejoice”.
Show me a place on Twitter or facebook where “rejoice” is used regularly. Point to conversation, and show me where two people have used the word regularly and with understanding. Though it is a simple and self explanatory word, people simply don’t use it.
But in the things of God, it takes first place. I rejoice at the righteousness of God! I rejoice at his excellent and unexpected mercy! And I rejoice that his promises are true and faultless! I rejoice continually, that my sins are forgiven before the Living God; in Christ Jesus my Holy and Faithful Lord!
How many times I have tried to explain this, and realize I have not found the means to communicate. Even when I speak to Christians, who know these things, there is a lack of evidence that they understand. For their lives only reflect a certain portion of such rejoicing. How then can I expect to relay these things to a people who do not know their left from their right.
But I will testify of what is true. And by the truth, I am forced to use the word “rejoice”. (I suppose I could use the word “elation”, but how is that any more common than the word “rejoice”?)
I ask forgiveness from those who do not understand its value. But it is the only word English has, to properly describe the joy a man experiences at the forgiveness of his sins.
I understand the righteousness of God, because I have read it in His Holy Word the Bible. I see that I am not able to uphold his Holy Law, for I stumble around as a man in the dark when I try to do it. Fear becomes my best friend, and drives me to seek His mercy.
So, by “The Faith“, His Holy Word teaches me. I approach him in prayer with confession. To my complete amazement, the Sovereign God reaches down to touch me with forgiveness.
With understanding comes a volume of tears. And when I rise from prayer, confidence fills me, where there was fear before. I am forgiven of my trespasses, and find the strength, to strive after his Holy Law again.
Who can explain this mystery? I look within, and find myself void of proof. I can tell you it’s true, but I cannot prove it. I am forced to display what God has done in me. And you are forced to judge rightly according to what you perceive in me.
Is there love? Yes. Is there patience? Yes. Do I display a hatred for the things of man, while I love the things of God? Yes. Is there knowledge of His Holy Word? Yes. Is there a desire to do the things of God rather than the things of men? Yes. Has his love made me different than other men of this world? The answer is yes.
The forgiveness of God produces these things, which are called fruit. And it is these things that God is looking for in his people. “Does the man believe, to the point that he has changed.” This is the summation of God’s intent.
Without such fruit in a man, he cannot say he has understood the forgiveness of God. But when the forgiveness of God comes, as I have described, there is a rejoicing that does not cease.
Rejoicing in God is a never ending, that is to say eternal, gift that we give back for the love he has given. We are forced, by our love, to worship Him with truth, and joy, and desire to do righteously. What better word might someone use than “rejoice”?
The absence of this word, among the people of America, tells me that they have not received forgiveness for their sins. Others may say, “This has to do with a lack of Bible knowledge. It is simply a lack of vocabulary. Teach them, and they will own it”.
How can I possibly own what belongs to God unless God gives it to me?
I do not perceive that America lacks vocabulary. For they talk incessantly between one another. And they seem well enough able to understand, for they respond in great volume.
Bible language has to do with Bible things. Bible things have to do with the Living God in Christ Jesus. Those who do not know the vocabulary of the Bible, do not know the living God. For the words of the Bible become a living testimony in the one who receives forgiveness of his sins.
I understand a debate that may form by what I just said. But I ask you to leave it where it is, that men may ponder this in their soul. If men see us debate the issue they will leave the job to us. What good is then accomplished?
Justice Removed
What a tiny cup of bitter drink I drink.
How seemingly base and unfair.
For even while my tongue hands it down to my soul,
It is changed to sweetness beyond compare.
How large is the vat my God drank for me.
How bitter and unavoidable be?
For to death he did drink it;
My sins and all the sea’s.
That my cup, so tiny, should be;
So wonderfully palatable be!.
And what is less balanced
Than the “Justice removed”?
When torment should fill my soul.
Yet, in his great mercy,
I find my cup tiny;
Filled with sweetness
from God so behooved.
What troubles have we?
Can we hope to compare-
With the marvelous wisdom of God?
For he drank of “The Death”,
Yet returns to us joy!
While he is the One most offended.
Each day comes a cup,
Too tiny to hold.
Oh, yet how large it appears to me!
Yet the Lord in His love was immersed in a vat!
God’s promise to you and me.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise him above Ye heavenly host!
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost!
Amen!
This Day, the Trembling Rabbit
This day has never been. And wicked men wake with fear. Yesterday is now a testimony both for and against all men who lived it. It is written in stone; unmovable and sure.
As men slept. their testimony of yesterday was rolled up as a scroll. It was set in a place unreachable by the desire and hands of men. It was set among the scrolls of all their yesterdays. And the living God, himself alone. knows the place.
Men may remember small elements of yesterday. But they are powerless to affect the testimony, either for good or for bad. What remains in the hand of men is either regret or joy.
Left alone, regret is quickly covered up. Perhaps a man drinks himself to oblivion to forget. Perhaps he dresses his mind with the things he has learned to enjoy. He says, “I will cover my regret. It is too much for me to bear.”
But regret is like a hungry wolf who walks beside you in the woods. You hear the leaves rustle, just beyond your ability to see through the brush. The snap of a tiny twig. The brush of a branch against heavy fir. The sound of heavy breathing as desire looks your way. And if you could hear it, your ears would hear a drop of salivation strike the ground beneath his gaping mouth. So it is with your regret which you hurry to mask as you wake from sleep.
If this is the case of yesterday, what will be today. You will sleep tonight. Will the morning see you scramble to cover today’s crop of regret? Will you spend tomorrow trembling as you walk its path?
WHY? Why do you live this way? Why do you allow all your days to hunt you in the darkness? Is it that you don’t know how to be released? Is it that you have so well learned wickedness that you think it is normal? Have you even come to the point where you attribute your own wicked ways to the living God and His holy son? Do you say with confidence, “There is no way out!”
By this testimony you have no joy! It is ripped away from the reach of your hand. And you have ripped it away of your own volition.
How pathetic that men cover their regret with such trivial joy. How sad that men should even know the word eternity. How horrible the men should speak the word “joy”.
Black and dark are your days. Hunted like some terror filled rabbit, you spend your day in useless trivia. Ignoring the wolf does not quench his hunger for your blood.
Would you be free of this hideous cycle of hopeless behavior? Or have you come to love the thrill of death? Do you take joy in your useless life?
Have you heard of the gospel of Christ Jesus, the Holy Son of the living God? I tell you a truth. He can release you from your days as a victim of regret. But the choice remains yours.
You may read the Bible. You may listen to sermons. You may witness people who live free of regret. You may ask them and receive their answer. But if you would join them you must do the things of God.
It is not enough to hear. A blade of grass may shiver in its place from the sound waves of truth that shake its form. Never the less, it is cut down by the gardener. So it is with those who hear and do not do.
What is the urgency in your heart to be free of this cycle of death? Go! Go visit the holy and living words that can transform your very soul. Force your blind eyes to read. Then ask the living God for release. And continue for the rest of your days doing these things. This is the life that will bring you freedom.
Do you think he does not love you? Is not this thought a product of your own wicked and unloving heart? If God did not love you, would he have sent His Son to be murdered in your place? Why would the Holy living God do such a foolish and wicked thing?
Release is! The transformation from pathetic rabbit to a godly joyous man is real! Do not let your eyes look at others. Many will testify that they have looked and found nothing. How then can this man write these words? Pay no attention to them. They lie from the wickedness that is stored up in their own heart.
Regret comes to you because there are words describing joy. People are clean and are free and you have seen them. What will you give to join them?
Be Not Ashamed
From his rightful and lofty place above all creatures, the Lord rules with joy. He is the definition of Good. Therefore it is His right to define what is good. He gives life generously to all who set their heart toward Him.
His righteousness is life. All His laws are righteous. Therefore his laws are joy. He gives the right of righteousness to all who receive the life in His Son Jesus. And as many as will listen to the Son, will find their lives transformed.
Wicked men attribute their own nature to the living God and His Son. They think that because they are corrupt, even God must be corrupt. Because of their depravity they cannot imagine something pure and fully Good. Still the Holy Lord holds off the end day. His compassion and His patience are evident among us.
For now, the wicked are encased in a dark, pathetic and unholy accusation. For it is impossible for them to give glory to a creature such as themselves. If this is how they perceive while they are here, they are not likely to be able to change their mind when they appear before Him.
If any man will only believe that God lives and is Good, he will open the door for the Lord to come in. The Great Physician cannot heal a wound if a man will not let Him near. No matter how great the Lord’s desire, such a man remains in death.
All these things that are written here are true. Therefore I am not ashamed to testify. I do not testify as a man who has become righteous by his own strength. What righteousness now covers me has appeared from the Lord Himself.
Moment by moment He has taught me how to live so that I could please the Holy Father’s righteous demands. More than just forgiveness, the Lord teaches us how to live so that forgiveness need not be constantly considered. The freedom of righteousness now takes the place of wickedness.
He is wise, compassionate and patient with His people. He allows His people time to learn. And he teaches us how to love His Father’s ways. What we once perceived as an angry and corrupt God now appears as Good!
Little by little we begin to live righteously. Little by little joy overtakes despair. Strength overcomes weakness. What is holy destroys what is unholy. Thread by thread we become dressed, prepared for a great wedding feast. And the dread of judgment is replaced by a great joyful hope!
Come join us!
By His Grace
You’re a Christian, huh?
![Happy Tears - old man [12]](https://i0.wp.com/farm6.static.flickr.com/5146/5627745938_55e83a7778_m.jpg "Happy Tears - old man [12]")
Happy Tears – old man [12] (Photo credit: Zuhair Ahmad)
One moment you’re living your life. The next moment you’re on your knees sobbing like a little child. His touch is that powerfully packed with love. But how can it be described?
You think you’re a Christian. I won’t take that away from you. In fact, you might be the very brother or sister I will live next to for eternity. But can we talk about what can be expected by those who say they love the Lord of Life?
Have you shed tears like that? Have you ever been in a setting and found yourself filling with appreciation about the things of God? What did you do? Did you shut them down lest anyone see a drop of emotion manifest itself on the outside of your body? Or did you let it consume you, knowing that what is unseen and unheard will be visible to all and yelled from the roof tops? But those are things of the flesh. Those are things we can accomplish.
I’m pointing to that specific and immeasurably different experience we strive to express when we have been touched by the Lovely One. I will restrain my fingers here. For I was about to dive into psalm about Him. What good would that do if you haven’t experienced His nearness yet?
Instead, I will testify that there is a touch of God in this world! He is not distant! “In Him we live and move and have our being.” Our souls are dark and willingly hide from Him. But open yourself to the Lord of Life. Hope, dream, expect and pray that He will touch you. He is willing. He is simply waiting for the proper moment. It will be a moment when you least expect it. And He will whisper His love and understanding to you. Tears WILL flow.
By His Grace.
Words From There 