In a devotional I read recently, I was impacted by a quote by John Piper — “The gospel is not a way to get people to heaven; it is a way to get people to God. It’s a way of overcoming every obstacle to everlasting joy in God.”
I think so many times people limit the work of Christ on the cross by thinking that it was just to secure our eternity with God. And while it does secure the eternity of those chosen by God to be regenerated, it doesn’t stop there.
The grace that saves is the same grace that sanctifies us. It’s the same grace that seals us. It’s the same grace that supports us through our hardships.
“But grow in the grace and knowledge
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory both now and
to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18)
Many people never grow in the grace that saved them. That makes me sad because there is so much power available to believers, if they would only access it.
Just as Jesus provided payment for the impossible debt my sin deserved, He is also providing a way to navigate life with JOY. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us that when we are tempted (and in this case being tempted to allow our feelings about our trials to take control), “God will provide a way out so you can endure it.” What’s that way? JESUS! As we choose to shift our focus from our “situation” to our “Savior” something wonderful happens. It makes room in our heart and mind for JOY!
Another thing that we must acknowledge is that JOY isn’t something we drum up in our emotions. JOY is a product of the work of the Spirit within us.
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is
contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that
you are not to do whatever you want…but the fruit of the Spirit is love,
JOY, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness
and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh
with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit,
let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-17, 22-25).
The way I see it is that we have to get out of our own way, allowing the Spirit to produce the fruit of JOY in our hearts and minds.
We must yield to what we know of God,
not to what I “feel” about our situation.
Jesus set such a wonderful example in His last days on earth. Hebrews 12:2 says, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the JOY that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
JESUS FOCUSED FORWARD.
Being seated at the right hand of God was His focus, not what He was enduring at the moment. Now let’s apply that truth to our lives.
The Bible tells us that, spiritually, we are already “seated with God in heavenly places” (Ephesians 2:5-6), and that we, because we are “in Christ, we have already been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places“, (Ephesians 1:3). THAT needs to be our focus. All of this life is so temporary. Don’t allow what’s happening today to steal your JOY!