OCTOBER 2, 2023

“Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.” 

― Pierre Teilhard de Chardin 

ISAIAH 24-26

3You will keep in perfect peace

those whose minds are steadfast,

because they trust in you. (26:3)

EPHESIANS 4

17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

20That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26“In your anger do not sin”^d : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

JOURNAL 

Here it is in black and white...verses that hit me right between the eyes. This is the life we are commanded to live. Here it says in Isaiah that God will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast...because they trust in God. Then in Ephesians Paul is telling them to put off the old self, to not let Satan have a foothold and to rid ourselves of all bitterness, rage, anger and every form of malice to be kind and and compassionate.

I consider myself to be a positive person and for the most part I am. However, recently I was listening to Timothy Keller's sermon on Pride and Nebuchadnezzar. The two main points were that everything is a gift and to see life in any way other than with a spirit of gratitude and humility is to be eaten up with pride. Humility sees the goodness and the gift of seeing, walking, talking, breathing and living. Humility sees the talents I possess and the opportunities I have rather than what I don't. Humility realizes that at any moment they can be taken away in ways of which I have no control.

Therefore if I continually surrender to God first and count my blessings with a true spirit of humility, then I don't need others to validate me, I don't need life to work out in a certain way, I simply just need to acknowledge God, his gifts and seek to follow him wherever he leads. That would mean that I would follow God as he uses me to love and bless others. I would follow God as I honor my talents and seek to maximize them to the fullest. It means every single moment of every day I would live in a true spirit of joy.

Today is a tremendous gift...life is the greatest!!

 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 

EPHESIANS 2:4-5