Piggy-Back into His Joy

    Clearly God has turned our mourning into joy, but it is up to us to choose to stand in His provision.  Obviously, it is easy to dwell in our fallen-nature tendency to complain, to feel sorry for ourselves, and to be anxious and fearful. However, God exhorts us to allow His joy to come in and our joy to be full.  Let there be joy!  Serve the Lord with joy and gladness of heart.    

Psalm 35:27 has an amazing exhortation: Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause; and let them say continually, "Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.'"  Jesus came and took our place because He delights in showing mercy and allowing us to share His glory. He is worthy of it all, glorious praise for what He has done. 

    

  At school this week I tried to demonstrate to the children what Jesus did for us.  We imagined a pit of fiery hot lava (hell) and pointed out that everyone who sinned deserved death, and to be thrown into the pit.  We suggested that when they look at the cross they should see themselves on the cross, because that is what our sin deserves.  However, Jesus took their place.  

Then I picked up "piggy back" one of the first graders, told him to pretend I was Jesus who picked him up, and carried him through the "fire of hell" and brought him to the other side called heaven.  Jesus is the only one who can walk through hell and take us to heaven.. We are the most blessed people on earth to have Jesus to "piggy back" carry us from eternal death and hell into His glorious home to joyfully live with Him forever! .

The joy of the Lord is our strength.  As long as we focus on and think about how blessed we are to know the Lord and our living hope of His resurrection, we can afford to be joyful and full of peace.  He has already won the victory for us over every enemy, including sin and death.  Because he lives, we live (John 14).  Capital One may ask "what is in your wallet?"  Life asks us, "What is on your mind?"  As a man thinks, so is he. When our minds are filled with the truth of how blessed we are (having all things that pertain to life and godliness 2 Peter 1:3), obviously joy and gladness are the result.  On the piggy back ride with Jesus, (or in His hand), nothing can separate us from the eternal joy of our salvation!