Joy

Our Sunday School class lesson was recently about Joy, not the gleeful emotion, but the Joy which can, and should,be experienced by Christians even in times of severe persecution.

This is the joy expressed by Paul and Silas singing in prison after they were beaten and chained to a damp stone wall. The joy with which Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped into the oven, The joy of Daniel in the lion's den. The joy of Job after his children were killed and everything he owned was stripped away. The joy which can best be described as peace or calmness.

Our class discussed exactly what the Christian Joy is. The best answer: the Christian Joy is the absolute knowledge that our God is in total control. He cannot be surprised or thwarted and those who belong to Him cannot be removed from Him. He is Love and works everything out for our good. Our good is to become conformed to Him.

I Am His Favorite

I saw a woman wearing a Tee-shirt emblazoned with the logo, “Jesus Loves You … But I’m His Favorite!”  I had to think about that one and then I realized that it was true.  She is His favorite.  You are His favorite.  I am His favorite.

Would Jesus have endured the Cross to save only the woman? Yes.

Would Jesus have endured the Cross to save only you? Yes.

Would Jesus have endured the Cross to save only me? Yes.

Saint Augustine of Hippo said, "God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us to love."

“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:10