Enter into the Joy of My Father

"You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy above your fellows."  Psalm 46:7   This verse provides the key to a joy-filled life, which is our attitude toward obeying God (Be faithful in little) and completely rejecting anything that causes us to compromise what we know is right.  When this verse is quoted again in Hebrews 1, it is a description of Jesus' life, but it clearly also speaks of what the presence of the Lord desires to accomplish in us. Jesus asked why we say "Lord, Lord" and not do what He says.  Becoming a new creation means our life thoughts, emotions, and choices have also become new and are changed.     

Poor God!  He has to depend upon us to show the world what He is really like.  "He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake."  We choose righteousness to represent His name.  We are His light to the world.  Needless to say, we often fail, but that doesn't change the responsibility and that doesn't mean that we should quit desiring to be like Him.  It follows that we need His help to be a witness. Jesus promised, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me."   Notice we have been given the power and we shall "be" witnesses.  

Jesus endured the cross, according to Hebrews 12, because of the joy set before Him.  I always suggest that the joy set before Him was you, being set free and made holy so you can share His glory forever.  We know Jesus was motivated to choose the Father's will over His own with the help of the Holy Spirit.  Hebrews 9:14 states "who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself with spot to God"   We have been given that same Holy Spirit, the same power that raised Christ from the dead gives life to our mortal body, which also leads us and guides into all truth.  Romans 8:13 further declares that by the power of the Holy Spirit we can put to death the deeds of the body.

You and I have our most important appointment of our existence yet to come.  Psalm 42 asks "when will I come and appear before God?"  What an incredible joy it will be to lay our crowns before Him and to hear "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your master."  He promises that we will not lose our reward for every action and choice, even something as simple as giving a child a glass of water.  Yes, each one of us will stand before God and give an account for every word, for every deed done in the body.  What a person sows he will surely reap. Therefore, be wise not foolish, and lay up your treasures in heaven by letting the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit direct your steps and the choices you make.  The time will most surely come, when you stand before God, and with joy overflowing, have every iota of your life reviewed and rewarded.

What an awesome and beyond imagination experience to stand pure and holy before God!  Let that joy motivate you to make wise choices, to love and do what is right and hate evil.  Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the same attitude and commitment toward doing what pleases God that Jesus demonstrated, and hating, completely despising, the evil deeds of the flesh.  God promises fullness of joy in His presence as you agree with Him and do His will.  You reflect the true light of the world, and He invites you to "enter into the joy of My Father."