JOY is a little word,
yet carries the power to
put HAPPY to shame.
Because JOY is FOREVER
and
HAPPY is temporary.
Does that make HAPPY bad?
Oh no.
I LOVE being HAPPY.
But the question to ask is whether you
can have JOY, yet not be HAPPY.
Hmm.
Think about it.
That day.
That day it all went dark.
When the ONE who was supposed to SAVE the world
was hanging from a cross.
Where was HAPPY?
Was it in the cries coming out of the crucified KING?
"My GOD my GOD why have you forsaken me".
I don't think so.
Where was JOY?
Oh JOY was there, for that is why JESUS was hanging there!
"HE endured the cross and ignored the shame of that death because
HE focused on the JOY that was set before HIM"
(Hebrews 12:2).
Could JESUS have FINISHED the task HE was born to do,
if HE was focused on
the persecution,
the beating,
the shame,
and
the nails
that hung HIM on the cross?
I don't think so,
because
JESUS was focused on something BIGGER
beyond
the sweat, the blood, and the tears
shed that day.
"JESUS was able to endure the ordeal of the cross because HE understood the good that would come of it – the good of a redeemed, rescued people honoring GOD for all eternity"
(Guzik).
JOY hung JESUS on the CROSS
ALL FOR THE JOY
that was beyond the CROSS.
You. Me. EVERYONE.
Oh
PERSEVERING JOY.
Oh
STEADFAST JOY.
JOY is HERE, even if you feel as if you are being nailed to a cross.
Is GOD asking you
to do something,
or to say something,
or to do nothing,
or to not say something,
ALL FOR THE JOY
where JOY is nowhere to be found?
Look no further.
GET READY. GET SET. GO.
"Keep your eyes on JESUS, who both began and finished this race we’re in.
Study how HE did it.
Because HE never lost sight of where HE was headed—
that exhilarating finish in and with GOD—
HE could put up with anything along the way:
Cross, shame, whatever.
And now HE'S there, in the place of honor, right alongside GOD.
When you find yourselves flagging in your faith,
go over that story again, item by item,
that long litany of hostility he plowed through.
That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"
(Hebrews 12:2-3).
Where is your JOY?
Oh right in front of you.
Therefore,
"I'LL FIX MY EYES"
(listen to the song below)
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