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From the Pastor's Desk August 21, 2005 PEACE AND JOY are the birthright of every believer not only in eternity but also in the present. However, this is not the consistent experience of many Christians. We can probably think of many times in our lives where the joy of the Lord and the peace of God seemed very far away from us. There are times in our lives when we have experienced sadness and anxiety. So is it realistic for Christians to expect peace and joy in their lives all the time? I believe we should certainly aim for it. But by having this expectation I am not denying that we will feel sad, anxious and angry at times. It just means that the overall life of a Christian should not be characterised by these negative emotions. We may pass through seasons of sadness, anxiety or anger but we do not live there. Jesus has provided something much better for us. He said to his disciples: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) And when we pray concerning our worries the promise is that “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard [our] hearts and [our] minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7) As we keep bringing our life and circumstances before the Lord we can continue to enjoy his peace in our lives. One of the characteristics of salvation is the experience of joy. The scripture says, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8-9) Even when external circumstances are not particularly happy, the Christian learns to maintain an attitude of joy because his joy is not contingent on outward circumstances but built on his relationship with the Lord. As a prophet of an earlier time declared: “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18) ******** For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, (Romans 14:17)
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