The Joyful Path

“Let all those that put their Trust in Thee Rejoice: let them ever shout for Joy, because Thou defends them: let them also that love Thy Name be Joyful in Thee. For Thou, Lord, wilt Bless the righteous; with favour wilt Thou compass them as with a shield.”  ~ Psalms 5:11‑12

         

Who here is Joyful? Salvation should be a Joyful Path, however we are harassed by the enemy of our soul who hates our Salvation. We are admonished to “Put our Trust in God?” I know we do, but alas, the temptations of the evil one and his harassment seems periodically to overwhelm us. Good News, I’ve found some nuggets in Scripture that will help us follow the Path of Joy! We sing a most appropriate song, “It is Joy unspeakable and full of Joy” yet again it is hard to obtain that “fullness” of Joy. It is not we doubt the Joy that Jesus had in obeying His Father, that caused Him to accomplish the 40 days of temptation in the wilderness. There He was tempted by the devil himself and He overcame by the Word of His Father! We too must come to the place where the enemy of our soul cannot tempt us to loose the Joy of our Salvation. When we are “short” of Joy, and I’m sure everyone understands what that means! Well it means the devil is messing with our Salvation. I read in Scripture [Isa. 12:3] “Therefore with Joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of Salvation.”  Consider the Lenten Season when you think of Jesus’ Joy – the Joy that was set before Him. We must learn to approach our difficulties with the “Joy” – His Joy! For it is He who has redeemed us! Happiness can easily be short lived, but sincere Jesus’ Joy is Eternal. God had a Path for Jesus, it lead to Gethsemane and Jesus was willing to obey His Father, He considered it a Joy. But with that Joy He had to “give” His life. That is called a “Joyful Sacrifice!” Because He gave His Life, we now can draw Joy from His Sacrifice. What a Savior. Finding a Joyful Path is not easy, just when you think you’ve found it, it requires sacrifice. I hear the Wisdom of the writer of Proverbs: “Trust in the Lord with all thing heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy Paths.” In this Holy Season may we find a fresh Joy as we journey on His Path of self-discipline.  Let us embrace this moment. “Thou wilt shew me the Path of life: in Thy Presence is fullness of Joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Ps. 16:11 Loving you as we Join in this Disciple together, Pastor