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Hi, my name is Justus, I'm a Christian.I attended Patrick Henry College for three semesters, and I transfered to College of the Ozarks in the fall of 2013 where I graduated as an English major in 2016. I love the Lord Jesus Christ the savior of my soul. He has made me new. He leads me in the Old Path; He is the Way. I am not perfect; my Lord is sanctifying me though.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Joyful steps

  In an earlier post, Taking the Oldest Path, I left 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 hanging. (I haven't forgotten.) Here I want to explore each segment in greater detail.
      "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 

         How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “ HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!” (Romans 10:15)
        This truth is not easily understood. Most people would think that feet are not beautiful, but let's put it in perspective. At the time these words were penned there was no email, no Facebook, no phones, and all news was passed by person, or at least by a letter (carried by... a person). During wars (in David's time) a city might send out its young men to fight and wait for days to find out the results. The watch would wait for a messenger to come with news of the battle. A bounce in the step of the messenger could be seen from the walls of the city. Joy was evident in the very feet of the men carrying good news, whereas those with bad news also would have had a distinctive walk. 
       Joy changes the way others perceive you. Joy changes the way you walk. One carrying good news has a right to joy. And what better news is there than the Gospel of Life in Christ? We are to rejoice always, for we have been given eternal life; we have the Good News!
      
      Prayer is key to having an intimate life in Christ. How can you be intimate with someone without being in communication with them? This may seem cliche, but it really isn't; it is such an important truth that I'll say it again: prayer is key to having an intimate life with Christ. I know this, yet I do not always pray, as we are told we should. However, when I get into a habit of praying, I find my steps are lighter, the joy is easier to come by. 

     We cannot be thankful enough. God's grace and mercy are so undeserved by us that our thankfulness is the least we could do. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Our culture makes thankfulness out to be something you only do once (maybe twice) each year. However, the Word of God transcends our culture. We are to give thanks in everything. That includes when we lose our job, our spouse, our grandfather, our health, our friends, or our favorite shirt. We are to give thanks for we are blessed. God has given us eternal life, which we cannot lose. And let's be honest, it is the least we can do. Thankfulness is an avenue which leads to a joyful life. Without gratitude to God's blessings, we are mere selfish consumers of the gifts God gives us.

     God's will-- a question without any apparent answer. But we ask this question with specific results in mind. We ask for His will in our dating life or in our work life, but not in our Life. God's will for us in Christ Jesus, the Life (John 14:6), is to rejoice, pray, and give thanks. This is much more important than what school we go to or whether we have a bagel or a muffin each morning. Let us not trivialize God's will, let us follow what He has commanded.
         
 "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you." (Philippians 3:1)
  

(By the way sorry about the long hiatus.) 
Blessings, Justus
 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, John 14:6, Philippians 3:1, Romans 10:15, Romans 5:8