His Joy

                                            

 

 

As the miles slip past my window, as the scenery morphs from green to desert and back again, and as the sun slips high in the sky, then sets behind the mountains in a wild rim of colors only to frame the moon hours later, the reality that some changes are irreversible, that what was may never be again, that what is may not be what will be, follows me. During this ten day cross-country trip spent with my family, memories of the past travel with me...And at first I try to cling to what was, to the life that feels like just yesterday was still mine--still ours.

 

But I see siblings seated close and I see me and I see how seasons change; just like the view out my window. And just because what was may never be ours again, just because what is and what lies just ahead seems darker than the view out my rear-view window, I must ever remember that there is One who never changes, One who never seals off a season of our lives a second too soon, One who never takes away without giving better in exchange. A God who keeps His promises. every.single.time.

 

 

^"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"-Romans 8:32

Freely. He gives it all. Gladly. Joyfully. Over and over.

This God who gave up His only Son, who counted life not worth living without us; traitors of His heart, He moves heaven and earth to reveal His good intention towards us. Time, and time again.

We shun Him, and He shields us still.
We reject Him, and He redeems us still.

His rejoicing, His happiness, is found in our "uplifting and redemption."
He knows that in Him, our future will always be brighter than our past. He wants His future to be our future, His joy, to be our joy.

"God is the source of life and light and joy to the universe. Like rays of light from the sun, like the streams of water bursting from a living spring, blessings flow out from Him to all His creatures. And wherever the life of God is in the hearts of men, it will flow out to others in love and blessing.

Our Saviour’s joy was in the uplifting and redemption of fallen men. For this He counted not His life dear unto Himself, but endured the cross, despising the shame. So angels are ever engaged in working for the happiness of others.

This is their joy. That which selfish hearts would regard as humiliating service, ministering to those who are wretched and in every way inferior in character and rank, is the work of sinless angels. The spirit of Christ’s self-sacrificing love is the spirit that pervades heaven and is the very essence of its bliss. This is the spirit that Christ’s followers will possess, the work that they will do."
Steps To Christ, pg. 77