The liberal devises liberal things, and seeks objects of charity. It must be with piety and devotion: The joy of the Lord is your strength. Let it not be a carnal sensual joy, but holy and spiritual, the joy of the Lord, joy in the goodness of God, under the direction and government of the grace of God, joy arising from our interest in the love and favour of God and the tokens of his favour (From Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Nehemiah 8).
The joy of the Lord is your strength.
I don’t feel it. I wish to, though.
I feel like Job when he says: “My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy” (Job 9:25).
Willing it won’t make it happen… or at least it hasn’t yet.
How do I survive, function as a Christ-follower in this condition? It is the condition in which I DO NOT feel strengthened by the joy of the Lord. Would somebody PLEEEASE answer that question!
In this context, the existential joy of being under God’s goodness and grace is that which motivates charity. I don’t generally live there.
I want to. How do I get there?
Sometimes I think if I just position myself and ponder God’s joy a lot, I will get it. I admit I feel much like Linus must have felt on the morning after Halloween. He had waited all night, expectantly, optimistically, regularly for the Great Pumpkin only to be once again disappointed.
Nothing happens many times.
God, in Christ, asks parabolically (Mt 20:16): “Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own?”
(Here is where I try to self-preach) God is good; He is a generous God of grace. He has given me Himself (“the keys to the Kingdom”); I cannot possess any more than I possess right this moment! Never mind that I live on this side of the full consummation of this inheritance, I have it – rather, it has me! – and “nothing can snatch me out of His Hand” (from Jn 10:28f)!
So, what am I complaining about?
Is it wrong to want the experience of joy?
No.
I guess my prayer is for patience. I will still be Linus and pray for the gift of joy.
(Psalm 51:8) “Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.”
(Psalm 86:4) “Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.”
(Psalm 45:7) “You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
The joy of the Lord is your strength.
I don’t feel it. I wish to, though.
I feel like Job when he says: “My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy” (Job 9:25).
Willing it won’t make it happen… or at least it hasn’t yet.
How do I survive, function as a Christ-follower in this condition? It is the condition in which I DO NOT feel strengthened by the joy of the Lord. Would somebody PLEEEASE answer that question!
In this context, the existential joy of being under God’s goodness and grace is that which motivates charity. I don’t generally live there.
I want to. How do I get there?
Sometimes I think if I just position myself and ponder God’s joy a lot, I will get it. I admit I feel much like Linus must have felt on the morning after Halloween. He had waited all night, expectantly, optimistically, regularly for the Great Pumpkin only to be once again disappointed.
Nothing happens many times.
God, in Christ, asks parabolically (Mt 20:16): “Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own?”
(Here is where I try to self-preach) God is good; He is a generous God of grace. He has given me Himself (“the keys to the Kingdom”); I cannot possess any more than I possess right this moment! Never mind that I live on this side of the full consummation of this inheritance, I have it – rather, it has me! – and “nothing can snatch me out of His Hand” (from Jn 10:28f)!
So, what am I complaining about?
Is it wrong to want the experience of joy?
No.
I guess my prayer is for patience. I will still be Linus and pray for the gift of joy.
(Psalm 51:8) “Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.”
(Psalm 86:4) “Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.”
(Psalm 45:7) “You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
No comments:
Post a Comment