majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him in Galatians 4:8-10,15a,
"Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by
nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by
God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable
principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are
observing special days and months and seasons and years!... What has
happened to all your joy?"
Paul's indictment against the Galatian believers was they were turning
from the faith that brought them into a relationship with God back to
the religious principles they clung to before they came to know God
through the gospel message Paul preached. They were placing themselves
in slavery under "those who by nature are not gods." and "weak and
miserable principles".
What captures my eye this morning is that as the Galatians began to
turn from the true faith, they began to loose their joy! Paul asks
them, "What has happened to all your joy?" This points to the fact
that having a right relationship with God brings great joy!
Joy is a word that has somehow lost popular circulation in our day,
except at Christmas time. Possibly this is a reflection of the pull of
our society away from the things of God these days. Joy is a natural
outflow of our relationship with God. For those of us who know God, we
are convinced of the wonders headed our way in the resurrection! Paul
tells us the kingdom of God is not a matter of splitting hairs over
every doctrinal issue that can develop within the church, "the kingdom
of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness,
peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" Romans 14:17. Righteousness, peace
and joy! In the next chapter Paul tells us joy is a fruit of the Holy
Spirit, Galatians 5:22. Because of this we should find ourselves
always joyful, 1 Thessalonians 5:16. We know that God's angels live in
the presence of the Lord and therefore are described as those who are
in "joyful assembly", Hebrews 12:22.
The one passage that sticks out in my mind relative to the joy that is
ours in Jesus Christ is what Peter has to say about believers, 1 Peter
1:8-9, "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though
you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an
inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your
faith, the salvation of your souls." Here is the appointed disposition
of those who are eagerly awaiting the return of our wonderful Lord
from heaven: joy!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd
love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment