Green Pastures and Still Waters
- Details
Joy? Seriously?
In the Advent tradition, each week before Christmas has a different theme. Week one is hope. Week two is faith. Week three is joy. We too often consider joy a mere emotion. As we all know, an emotion cannot be commanded. We all want to “feel” joyful, but somedays we don’t! So many things can affect our emotions; weather, physical well-being, finances, diet, relationships, sleep (or the lack of it). Somedays are just “meh.” There is very little in the media world that encourages joy. It seems like the news people are on a mission of misery and fear. Looking for something to rejoice about from most news outlets is like trying to find toilet paper in a pandemic—you have to know where to look. Thankfully, as believers, we do know where to look, to the Lord. His Word is filled with Himself and His ways. During some of Habakkuk’s worst days, he wrote, “I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” Joy is certainly an emotion but it is also a practice. The practice of joy helps us become joyful people. The practice of rehearsing gloom and doom makes us an Eeyore. We can live in a broken and fallen world, with our heads out of the sand, and still rejoice in the Lord and the power of His might. The kingdom of God is at hand and “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” The reign of Jesus is now and therefore righteousness, peace and joy can be now. Give it a try.
- Details
“Great David’s Greater Son”
I don’t think it is original with him, but the first time I ever heard that designation was from D. A. Carson. I don’t remember the rest of the sermon but I do remember how my heart jumped when Carson referred to Christ as, great David’s Greater Son. I know David had some bad moments, some serious indiscretions and heinous sins. His whole life is on display in the Word and there are no curtains and no filters. Yet, I love the Goliath story and how David endured his wanderings but eventually reigned. I’m impressed with his restraint toward Saul. I love the Psalms. When David sinned, he repented, and confessed, and even wrote it all down for us to read! His friendship with Jonathan stirs the heart. His rescue of Abigail is the stuff of romance novels. That the “great men” followed him and fought for him says something of his character. That he attracted misfits and hooligans and trained them in the ways of the Kingdom is heart-warming. He was truly a great king. But, great David had a much Greater Son. I’m not referring to Solomon or any of the rest of the many sons David fathered biologically. I’m referring to the One in the first century who was called “The Son of David.” As great as David was, he pales in comparison to His descendent, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus conquered bigger giants, fights more wars, sings better songs, has more followers, and leads greater armies. He has more misfits and hooligans than David ever had and look what He is doing with some of us. He is slowly but surely bringing about transformation and taking us to the Father’s big, big house! It’s okay to appreciate David but let’s worship great David’s Greater Son!