The third type of joy is fading joy, a type of joy rooted in God‘s common graceto all men. - P172
If you are a human being, regardless of your spiritual state, God hasblessed you (Matt. 5:45). And those blessings call forth joy as a response to God‘sgracious blessing. - P172
These blessings include a variety of things such as talents, family, possessions,
health, achievements, the beauty of a sunrise, and even lessonslearned through difficult trials. This is a true joy, present in all circumstances,
experienced by all people; nevertheless, it is a fading joy. - P172
It is fading because thisworld and all the goodness it has to offer are not all there is. If you gain the worldand have not God, you have nothing. And so we have our third rule: The bestthis world has to offer is fading joy. - P172
The fourth and truest type of joy is forever joy, so named because it is a joy thatcomes from and is directed back toward the eternal God, a joy that is the uniquepossession of Christians. - P172
Forever joy is the delight that God has in Himself, inHis creation, and in His redemptive mission. - P172
It is only through faith in Jesus thatyou, as a Christian, come to share in and experience this joy. As you glorify God,
you share in the delight He has in Himself. - P172
As you look over creation, you see itnot just as beautiful but as revealing the beauty of God as its Creator. When youreflect on your salvation, you joyfully revel in the electing grace of God towardyou, undeserved and rich. - P172
It is this joy that is the Christian‘s possession in suf-fering and prosperity, in this life and the next, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
And this, then, is our last rule: True, lasting joy is found only with God in Christ.
- P172
You have now seen counterfeit, superficial joy and the real thing side by side. Youhave picked up four rules to serve you as you examine your life. Do not settle forcheap, forged joy. Press on to lay hold of true, deep joy. - P172
The Westminster ShorterCatechism has it right when it says that the Christian‘s chief end is to glorifyGod and enjoy Him forever, because, in the end, joy is only as good as its object. - P172
7How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! Peopletake refuge in the shadow of your wings.
7 How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadowof your wings.
- P153
8 They feast on the abundance of your house; you givethem drink from your river of delights.
8 You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink fromyour river of delights.
- P153
9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light wesee light.
9 For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.
- P153
10 Continue your love to those who know you, yourrighteousness to the upright in heart.
10 Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you; give justice to those withhonest hearts.
- P153
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me, northe hand of the wicked drive me away.
11 Don‘t let the proud trample me or the wicked push me around.
- P153
12 See how the evildoers lie fallen-thrown down, notable to rise!
12 Look! Those who do evil have fallen! They are thrown down, never to rise again. - P153
The wicked have no fear of God before their eyes. The words of their mouthsare deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good. - P153
The love of the Lord reaches to the
heavens; His faithfulness reaches to the skies. His unfailing love ispriceless. People feast on the abundance of the Lord‘s house, for within Himis the fountain of life. - P153
This psalm, composed to be sung in public worship, describes the waysof the rebellious and the righteous. In the opening verses, the psalmistpaints a picture of those living in rebellion against God. - P154
They rejectGod, choosing instead to worship themselves. This self-flattery blindsthem to their sin so that their words and actions are continually evil.
- P154
Even as they lie down to sleep, they hatch evil schemes. The reason fortheir rebellion is simple: they have no fear of God. - P154
Without reverencefor God, we run the risk of growing numb toward our own sinful ways.
- P154
Let us ask the Holy Spirit to grow in us a healthy fear of the Lord thatwe will be able to reject and overcome the things that hinder our commitment to Him. - P154
In contrast to the rebellious, the righteous reject the worship of selfand instead rejoice in the goodness of God. - P154
God‘s love, righteousness,
and justice are available to all who seek shelter in the shadow of Hiswings, and God Himself protects them from the prideful schemes ofthe wicked. - P154
In David‘s words, we see the heart of someone who firmlytrusts in God. Being anchored in God‘s love and faithfulness sustainsand empowers us in our daily walk with Him. - P154
As followers of Jesus, wehave access to abundant life and joy as we abide in Him, and whatevercomes against us, we know we already have the victory because He hasovercome the world. - P154
"God is in the darkness and God is in the wilderness."
- Anne Graham Lotz - P154
When we place our trust in Jesus, we are declared forgiven of all oursins. We are also declared righteous in God‘s sight. This righteousness is not our own. It comes to us by virtue of our relationship withChrist. Theologians refer to this as "imputed righteousness." - P155
At thesame time, you and I are called to "work out" our salvation (Phil.
2:12). This understanding of our salvation is what I call the divine-human equation, and two things are essential in understanding how itworks. - P155
First, we must grasp both the present and future aspects of oursalvation. Second, we must embrace our calling as disciples to livefaithful, obedient lives to God.
- P155
The word "salvation" in the New Testament can also be translated as
"rescue" or "deliverance." When Peter preached on the Day of Pen-tecost, he urged his listeners to repent, saying, "save yourselves fromthis corrupt generation" (Acts 2:40). - P155
In other words, his plea to hislisteners was that by trusting in Jesus they would escape the destruc-tion that is enveloping this world in which we live.
- P155
By trusting Jesus daily and looking to Him to provide the guidanceand strength we need to make our way through life, we are deliveredfrom the many deceitful entanglements of sin. - P155
This daily trust is ourcalling as disciples. And as we live our lives by faith in Jesus, we aretransformed into His image, shining His light before those who aretrapped in the darkness of our sinful world. - P155
Lord Jesus, I praise You, for in Your cross and resurrection, I have been declaredrighteous in the eyes of the Father. - P155
May the knowledge of that righteousnessfill my life, transforming me more and more into Your image. In Your name,
amen. - P155
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