In His Presence Is the Fullness of Joy

Readings:
Psalm 16
Galatians 3:10-18

Focus:
Psalm 16:11b: "In your presence is the fullness of joy, at your right hand are pleasures for evermore."

The greatest thing to me about Christianity, after the overwhelmingly wonderful gift of salvation, is that it brings so much happiness and contentment to life, even in the midst of hardships. I would not trade it for all the riches, fame, or anything else that the world counts as worth having.

I am astonished, in fact, that people might not want it, because God has brought such joy to me. In fact, people just do not know him, or they have constructed barriers against him. Otherwise they would run to him themselves.

For indeed it is true that in his presence is the fullness of joy, and this will be for evermore.

Joy and Riches

Readings:
Job 40
II Corinthians 6:1-13

Focus:
II Corinthians 6:10: "In our sorrows we have always cause for joy; poor ourselves, we bring wealth to many; penniless, we own the world."

In this passage, Paul is describing his life as an apostle, and indeed it was hard. He suffered shipwreck, floggings, beatings, and imprisonment.

But this verse can also apply to those of us who know Christ. Because of the riches of love and the promise of eternal happiness that he gives us, there is no earthly sorrow that is greater than the joy we have with him. And no matter what poverty we may suffer here on earth, if we are able to tell others about him, then we are giving inestimable wealth to them. Not only that, but despite any such poverty, we own everything that matters about the world.

It is not mere pie in the sky bye and bye. It is true joy, true wealth, happier and richer than can be imagined.

All That God Lavishes on Us

Readings:
Job 4
I Corinthians 2

Focus:
I Corinthians 2:12: "And we have received this Spirit from God, not the spirit of the world, so that we may know all that God has lavished on us."

God has given us his Spirit for many reasons, but one of them is kind of amazing: so that we may know all that he has lavished on us. His Spirit is utterly different from the spirit of the world, and the wisdom of his Spirit will seem very different from worldly wisdom.

But besides this, his Spirit will let us know everything that God has lavished on us. Not just provided for us. Not just given us. But lavished on us! When we give our lives to him, and open ourselves to his direction, he lavishes blessings on us.

We may still have hardships, and troubles of various kinds. Our lives may not suddenly become rosy and perfect. But we will have blessings lavished on us; that is certain. I know this; I have experienced it in the midst of illness!

God lavishes good things on us. We can be sure of that.

He Has Riches Enough for All

Readings:
Nehemiah 12
Romans 10:11-21

Focus:
Romans 10:12b: "The same Lord is Lord of all, and has riches enough for all who call on him."

In our country we're trying to figure out how to spread the health-care budget around. And in the world we're trying to figure out how to make sure that there's enough food for everyone.

But as for the riches that come from God, the love, the assurance of salvation, the gift of life everlasting, God has enough of that for anyone who calls on him. No matter how many people there are in the world, from the beginning to the end of time, for all of those who put their trust in him, God has enough to give them. He does not run out of his riches.