Jesus Others Yourself = JOY

Verse of the day: Psalm 4:6 There be many that say, who will show us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of Your countenance upon us.

What a sad question to be heard asked by God's people. Why do I say that? Well...because we, as born again believers, have had so much good done to us, that we should be asking, "Lord, to whom shall I show good to today?" Sadly, too many of us in Christianity have become like the unsaved in being more concerned about our own wellbeing, than the wellbeing of others. Philippians 2:3-4 tells us to do nothing out of selfish ambition, but look after the interest of others, not only our own. Philippians 2:21 tells us that those who belong to Jesus do not look after their own interest, but that of others. We see the same thing said in 1 Corinthians 10:24. I must remind us, however, that when we do this, we must do it expecting nothing in return, because the majority of the people we do good to are people who are seeking for someone to good to them, without a thought of what good they can do for others, including us. This is one of the things that is supposed to set us apart as God's children. We are to do good, even if it is not returned unto us, and even if the person we are doing good to is our enemy (Mt 5:44). Here, in this chapter, the Psalmist is not looking for anyone to do good unto him, other than God. The goodness he seeks from God is God's favor and friendship. In verses 7 & 8, he expresses what that goodness, and favor, looks like, and its end result. In verse 7 we see that while the world, and the worldly, seek material things from others, and from God, the Psalmist finds contentment in the joy and peace that can only come from having God's favor. Jesus told us, in John 14:27, that the peace He gives us is unlike the peace that the world offers. In other words, what the world offers cannot, and does not, compare to the peace we have in Christ. The source and foundation for the joy that is in our hearts is our relationship with God in Christ Jesus. We have been reconciled and adopted into God's family because of what Jesus did for us on Calvary. Proverbs 14:13 tells us that even in laughter our hearts can be sorrowful. How often do we see others, and even we sometimes, cover up our sorrow with laughter? The joy that we have in Christ is just the opposite and shines through, even in the most sorrowful of events in our lives. In verse 8, the Psalmist tells us the blessed end result of seeking God's joy and peace over that which the world offers; the ability to lay down in peace, and sleep, knowing that God has everything under control. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us to bring our care to God because He cares for us, and Philippians 4:6-7 tells us that when we bring our concerns to God in prayer, with thanksgiving, His peace, which passes both our understanding, and the world's, will guard our hearts in minds, through our relationship with Christ Jesus. There is no amount of money or worldly goods that can give us the kind of peace that will allow us to rest as peacefully, and as securely, as knowing that God is our Protector, Provider, and Peace-giver. There are many who have much of what the world offers, but they sleep not a wink, and many have even taken their own live, committing suicide; because in the end, the world has nothing of true worth to offer. The only things of any real value in this world, and the one to come, is grounded in our relationship with Jesus. If we, who are His children, really want true peace and joy, we must first find it in our relationship with Him; then we must seek ways to share that with others, rather than always looking for others to do good to us. We have all the good we need in the person of our God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).