Searching for Joy!

 

Saturday morning came with brutal force, Hamas had attacked Israel. Scenes from the battles turned my stomach, much like scenes from the Benghazi massacre. People being brutalized and killed.

Just another atrocity in our world today. It seems they are occurring with greater frequency. Instant digital connections, like intravenous drips, feed us news that is sensational and the gorier the better.

What can we do to dampen the evil input we are subjected to each day and bathe in the grace of God’s righteousness? Where to find our Joy?

In 2 Corinthians 5:21, the Apostle Paul says, “For He made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” With no input from man, God gave all the past and future sins of the world onto the shoulders of His Son, Jesus.

Why?

Because He loves us that much.

God wants His creation to understand the depth of His love. Just as a parent forgives a child’s misbehavior, God forgives us. Not only forgives us, but gives us His righteousness!

Therein lies the undeserved joy.

 In David Guzik’s commentary of 2018 on this scripture, he says the “righteousness of God” is greater than just being righteous. In the beginning, Adam was righteous before the fall, but that was human righteousness. This is actually part of God’s righteousness—much greater. We are not made righteous by anything we have or do, but by the righteousness imputed to us by Jesus.

Paul also said in 1 Corinthians 1:30, “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.”

Jesus suffered the pains of the cross, dying for our sins, preparing the way for God’s blessing. This act results in you and I being covered in the righteousness of God! It is because of this righteousness, given to us, we have that indescribable joy in our soul.

Next newscast you hear, see, or read that rushes to submerge your heart in the La Brea Tar Pit of this world, rise above it, floating on the joy of God’s righteousness within you.

Soli Deo Gloria

 

 

 

 

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