April 7, 2023
Friday
Joy Now and Forever
Philippians 4:4
11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
Why are patients willing to endure grueling weeks of chemotherapy? Why is a young couple willing to tighten their belts and their budget for two years? Why are some members of the military willing to undertake months of taxing training? It’s because of what lies ahead: physical health, freedom from debt, and achieving a goal.
The same question could be asked of the apostle Paul: Why could he write a short letter to the Philippians and mention “joy” and “rejoice” over a dozen times while incarcerated in a Roman jail? What gave him such a perspective—that it is possible to have joy and endurance in the midst of hardship? It is because we are future focused. Our eternal life begins when we come to know God through faith in Jesus Christ (John 17:3). We are living now in the future. The joy we will know on the new earth (Revelation 21:1-4) is the joy we can know today.
If you know Christ as Lord and Savior, you have been born from above to eternal life. Let eternal pleasure bring you fullness of joy today.
A point to ponder…
Only to sit and think of God, O what a joy it is!
Frederick W. Faber
Read the Bible through in a year
I love you!!!
© 2000-2023 B. Michael Goerlich