Seeking Joy

Have you experienced sticker shock at the gas pump or the grocery store recently? Economics teaches us that scarcity, among other things, drives prices up, even if the scarcity is perceived rather than actual. Russia’s recent incursion into Ukraine may be the main talking point but it is hardly the reason for current spikes in prices and lack of availability of products. War is big news and like the Covid pandemic is sensationalized, over analyzed, and faulted for the physical and mental state in the world when in fact, these are merely symptoms of a greater, long foretold problem.

“You will hear about wars.

You will also hear people talking about future wars.

Don’t be alarmed.

Those things must happen. But the end still isn’t here.

Nation will fight against nation.

Kingdom will fight against kingdom.

People will go hungry.

There will be earthquakes in many places.

All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Then people will hand you over to be treated badly and killed.

All nations will hate you because of me.

At that time, many will turn away from their faith.

They will hate each other.

They will hand each other over to their enemies.

Many false prophets will appear. They will fool many people.

Because evil will grow, most people’s love will grow cold.

But the one who remains strong in the faith will be saved.

This good news of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world.

It will be a witness to all nations.

Then the end will come.”

Matthew 24:6-14 NIRV

https://bible.com/bible/110/mat.24.6-14.NIRV

Jesus prophesied about a future time and we have seen such events escalating in recent history but we are not the first. The original disciples of Jesus wanted dates and times and signs more than they wanted Jesus and the Kingdom He preached. They had their own ideas about how to understand their times and like us, they tend to be self-centered rather than Christ-centered. Our calling as Christ-followers is what it has always been, to deny ourselves, taking up our cross daily to follow Jesus, (Luke 9:23) and to go into all the world to preach the gospel and make disciples. (Matthew 28:18)

The first Christian missionary, Paul, was told how much he must suffer for the name of Christ. He did not run from pain and suffering. He did not psychoanalyze those who persecuted him, seeking a scapegoat. He took the great commission and the words of Jesus literally and went back and forth through the known world making disciples. In the process, he was stoned and left for dead, beaten, shipwrecked, run out of town by everyone deemed important, and eventually imprisoned but he testified to the divinity of Jesus before the lowly and the high and mighty without regard for their reaction, only for their souls.

And as a result, “The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.

And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 13:49, 52 NIV

https://bible.com/bible/111/act.13.49-52.NIV

God’s word spread like wildfire throughout the entire region, and the believers were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. In Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit came on priests, prophets, and kings for a time but then departed, but Jesus ushered in the indwelling presence of God’s Holy Spirit in all who believe.

By God’s Spirit, believers experience fruit first in our own lives, then we bear fruit as we abide in Christ. (Galatians 5:22-23, John 15:5) The love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control present in the lives of believers is evidence of the indwelling Spirit of God, especially in the face of difficulty.

Jesus taught, “Blessed are you when people make fun of you and hurt you because of me.

You are also blessed when they tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me.

Be joyful and glad.

Your reward in heaven is great.

In the same way, people hurt the prophets who lived long ago.”

Matthew 5:11-12 NIRV

https://bible.com/bible/110/mat.5.11-12.NIRV

“My disciples, does the world hate you?

Remember that it hated me first.

If you belonged to the world, it would love you like one of its own. But you do not belong to the world.

I have chosen you out of the world.

That is why the world hates you.”

John 15:18-19 NIRV

https://bible.com/bible/110/jhn.15.18-19.NIRV

Paul gives us an excellent example of joy in the face of certain death when from a Roman prison he wrote these words.

“Brothers and sisters, here is what I want you to know.

What has happened to me has actually helped to spread the good news.

One thing has become clear. I am being held by chains because I am a witness for Christ.

All the palace guards and everyone else know it.

And because I am a prisoner, most of the believers have become bolder in the Lord.

They now dare even more to preach the good news without fear.

Here is the important thing…Christ is being preached about. That makes me very glad. And I will continue to be glad.”

Philippians 1:12-14, 18 NIRV

https://bible.com/bible/110/php.1.12-18.NIRV

Paul experiences joy in the knowledge that no matter what happened to him, living meant living for Christ and dying meant living with Christ for all eternity. What some saw as his demise was the ultimate win-win in Paul’s eyes because of the Holy Spirit. No amount of will power, no self help seminar, no other power can bring joy in the face of pain, beauty for ashes. (Isaiah 61:3) No matter what happens, Paul encourages us, live in a way that brings honor to the good news about Christ. (v.27)

The joy of the Lord makes you strong! Nehemiah 8:10