Tag: joy

  • The Gospel – Spreading Joy

    Johnny-jump-up (viola tricolor) has a lot in common with the gospel

    If you’ve known me for any length of time, you likely know that my favorite flower is the Johnny-jump-up (Viola tricolor). It seeds prolifically, pops up in unexpected places, grows in rough conditions and brings a smile when you see one. It reminds me in many ways of the gospel, bringing joy.

    Only God knows how many gospel calls have gone out (He sows prolifically). The gospel is seeded through the words of the Bible. The life of Christians calls people. Our testimony calls people.  The Holy Spirit calls out the good news of the gospel in ways we can only imagine. Like Johnny-jump-up seeds, the gospel is being sown everywhere, bringing joy as it grows.

    The gospel takes root in what we might consider the hardest of soils and the worst of conditions. It’s sown into the hearts of the enemies of God, people who love their sin, and people who had no idea that they needed a savior or who at times rejected the concept entirely.

    It happens unexpectedly. Even you and I were transformed by the power of the gospel and God’s incredible, unending grace. The Lord died to cover our sins and bring us to life.

    When the gospel takes hold, the person is changed forever. It’s a beautiful sight to behold. The newborn is far from perfect yet (what newborn is?), but they are undeniably changed.

    A sinner is forgiven. An enemy is now an heir. A former slave to sin is welcomed into the Kingdom of God.

    I have to rejoice and smile every time I see or hear of the gospel bearing fruit. I know it isn’t just me. The Lord rejoices and all the angels in heaven do as well.

    Yahweh your God is in your midst, A mighty one who will save. He will be joyful over you with gladness; He will be quiet in His love; He will rejoice over you with joyful singing. Zephaniah 3:17

    I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:7

    In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Luke 15:10

    My Johnny-jump-ups bring temporary smiles and joy. The fruit of the gospel brings everlasting rejoicing.

    Let us do our part to sow seeds of the gospel and rejoice when we see what the Lord does with them.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God) 

    Be blessed 

    Kevin 

    Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone) 

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    SUMMARY

    The Johnny-jump-up becomes a picture of the gospel: spreading unexpectedly, taking root in hard places, and bringing lasting joy wherever God causes it to grow. Just as the flower thrives in unlikely conditions, the gospel transforms sinners through God’s grace and produces eternal rejoicing in heaven and among believers.

    KEYPOINTS

    ·  The gospel spreads widely through Scripture, Christian witness, testimony, and the work of the Holy Spirit.

    ·  God causes the gospel to take root even in hardened hearts and impossible circumstances, transforming lives completely.

    ·  Every repentance and changed life brings joy not only to believers, but also to heaven itself.

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    This might be the best news you’ve ever heard. You may also like “Spread of the gospel”

  • Star Light Prayers

    Star Filled Sky

    I had a hard time falling asleep last night, so I moved to the living room. I sat in my recliner and watched the stars. There are many nights when they can’t be seen because we live in a coastal rainforest and the clouds cover them.

    As my mind wandered, I imagined the little pinpricks of light given by the stars were prayers. Maybe a silly image, but our prayers go up nonstop to the Lord, day and night, around the globe.

    Our world today is covered with much darkness. Evil abounds. Our moral foundation is eroding more quickly than a sand castle succumbs to a rising tide. Violence is regarded as entertainment. Corruption is apparent at all levels of business, education, government and even at times in the church.

    People claim to be looking out for number one but have sold themselves into bondage for more “stuff” that they neither truly want or need. Parents work extreme hours for the children they don’t even know. 

    If we were quiet long enough, I’m certain we could almost hear the laughter of Satan as he watches us chase illusion. He doesn’t care what we pursue as long as its not the thin gs of God.

    Satan loves the darkness. It is his realm. Since he could not rule the world of light, he hides in the dark and tries to destroy those who love the light. He hides in the dark of night, but he prefers the dark of our minds. He knows very well how to manipulate our dark, sin filled nature to his advantage.

    The dark won’t last forever though. I’m convinced the pinpricks are the prayers of the saints going up to God. I know the time will come when He will answer with a tearing away the very fabric of darkness.

    His Word promises a time of no more night.

    Then he showed me a river of the water of life, bright as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His slaves will serve Him; and they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night, and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them, and they will reign forever and ever.
    Revelation 22:1-5 

    In the meantime, keep those prayers headed upwards to tear the very fabric of evil. Our Lord has already overcome. The contest was never in doubt.

    Be blessed
    Kevin

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