Bold Enough to Have Joy

S
(Leviticus 26:14,15,36) “But if you will not listen to Me and will not do all of these commandments, if you spurn My statutes and if your soul abhors My rules...I will send faintness into [your] hearts...the sound of a driven leaf will put [you] to flight, and [you] shall flee...and fall when none pursues...”

O
God’s commandments are assignments from an apt authority, and His statutes are helpful etchings my emperor makes in my heart. His judgments are warrants from the treasuries of His wisdom. Our covenant, like the treaties in ancient times that formed alliances of pledged friendship between monarchs, so, too, I’m honored by the covenant Jesus made with me. It keeps us from being intimidated by Satan’s threats.

A
Like David in Psalm 119, I eagerly cultivate a loving respect for all God wants for me. It’s not a sacrificial degradation of my private desires, but an exhilarating exploration of joy.

P
Lord, I am so embarrassed to fall victim to fear as often as I do. How silly I’ve been to not boldly trust You. Yet, it’s by frightening, tiring circumstances that I discover the gift of courage that You’ve planted deep in my soul. Thank You. I worship You by getting courage out, exercising it, and playing with it. I love you, Dad! Your adopted son, ______

What Do You Want from Jesus?

S
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. Acts 5:41-42 (NIV)

O
They leave the highest court in Jerusalem, having just been rebuked and beaten, but the apostles are rejoicing. Their joy flows from their conviction that it was an honor to suffer for Jesus. They ignore the rebuke—to stop teaching in Christ's name—and continually minister, both in the place of public worship, and in people's homes.

A
I see no attractive message of happiness and success in this passage, only the joy of suffering in holiness and service. I love the parts of the Bible that speak of God's blessings for obedience. I often read into those verses, "happiness and success." But I really need the other parts, the passages that serve up a hearty meal of holiness, suffering, and, joy.

P
Dear Lord, please scrub my heart of any un-holy desire for comfort and ease in You. May I rejoice equally in your loving blessings whatever they bring, knowing that sometimes service comes as suffering. I pray that I will testify of Your lovingkindness even in the midst of the worst circumstances.