Sucking Sour Persimmons

“The Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” 

Rom.14:17

Have you ever noticed in the lives of most “believers” the one thing that seems missing is joy? We start off life as a believer as a new being, free from sin, forgiven and alive in Christ. But, what happens to that joy that we started with? Why is it that when you talk to many believers – especially about coming to God's house regularly or for some just getting through a day, you would do better to suck on a sour persimmon?

The easiest thing for us to lose as believers is our joy.  AND – it can be lost in the simplest of ways and with the simplest of things. You can lose it with one phone call or email, a letter or conversation. And there are a lot of people who are conspiring to rob it from you. Jeremiah the prophet said in Lamentations 5:15, “There is no joy left in our hearts”  Cranky Christians are a bad witness and look like they've been baptized in vinegar because they’re never really smiling, have no happiness and rather than give reason for the hope that is in them have people avoiding them because the feel like they are going to get their head chewed off. 

God wants us to be witnesses with our countenance of the JOY that can be found in Him. Paul states in Rom.14:17 “The Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” The sad thing is that many “mature” Christians have lost their joy and don't even know it.  They've become so addicted to living the soured life that they can't see the unspeakable joy that God has right in front of them. And – like an addict, they will not admit that they have lost it.  Has there ever been a point in your life when you were closer to God than you are right now? Has there ever been a point in your life when you were more joyful in the Lord than you are right now? If so, what caused you to lost that?

Did you know that it’s quite easy to get your joy back, too? The first step you need to do is admit you've lost it. Yes...you made a mistake, you didn't do EXACTLY what God wanted you to do or be how God wanted you to be – even though you made a good show of it. That said - Now is the time to make the change.  You can ask God about it; HE IS waiting to help you. David did this in Psalm 51:12: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation”  Did you know that God will do that?  Do you know that if you ask, God will GIVE you the Holy Spirit if you are seeking for it and wiling to take the opportunity God will bring before you?  Jesus said in Lk.11:13, “As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks.”

So, what has changed  about your spiritual walk and quiet time with God since you first heard His voice? What are the things that are robbing you of your joy in Christ?  This is always a season of change, a chance to begin anew again. But you don't have to wait for a New Year's Resolution to do this. You can start right now. 

Jim

CONDEMN - OR HAVE MERCY! - WHAT SAY YOU?

Many who are "outsiders" would describe Christians in general as being judgmental. We might scuff this off as their being ignorant of Christ, or the way of God. Granted, there may be times when these perceptions are biased, but if we take a sincere look inside our hearts it is hard to deny that there is truth behind these perceptions. What is perhaps just as disturbing is that many times we don’t even realize the nature of our own hearts. So, if we feel that part of the problem is ourselves, how do we change that? If you are still unsure on whether you struggle in this area, take the following short quiz.

Take out a piece of paper. Write two names near the top: “Rahab” and “Woman at the Well.” Now write a short description of each person. Write whatever pops into your head first. (If these biblical characters are new to you, read about them in Josh. 2 and John 4).

• Now, what about Rahab? What's the first thing that comes to mind? Harlot - prostitute! Yet, do we consider that she is one of the few women mentioned in Hebrews 11 as a woman of great faith? But what is she more often called? Rahab the Faithful, or Rahab the Prostitute? Do we even mention that she was in the genealogy of Christ? Yet, we frown upon her because of what she was, we do not praise her for what she became.
• Now, how many wrote something about the woman at the well being immoral? It is interesting, that many have the perception that immorality is what she has become most known for, yet the actual biblical text says nothing of the sort. She might have been. We might even say, "Well the text does say that she had had five husbands and the man she was living with was not her husband." She could have been immoral, or each of her husbands could have died leaving her to return to her father childless and without a provider for her, and in her day that certainly would make her an outcast. But, we naturally assume the worst. Why not try to assume the best? Let’s say that the text made it clearer, and said specifically that she really had behaved in immoral ways. Why is it that this is still the first thing we associate her with? Do we even stop to think that she believed Jesus was the Messiah and brought many people to hear him? Do we stop to consider that it was through her that many came to believe (Jn.4:39)? What faith she must have had!

These two women are not alive in our time, but it shows us that even when it comes to the deceased we can have negativity. None of us are immune to a critical or judgmental attitude. We sometimes are so quick to criticize the wrongs in society , yet in turn, so slow to do what we know is right. Scripture clearly says, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins” (James 4:17). Sin can be a sin of commission (i.e., done deliberately) or of omission (i.e., something that should have been done but was not). The Bible also says, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). All sin is the same in God’s eyes. Some sins might yield worse consequences than others, but we are all sinners who have fallen short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23).

The "prodigal brother" could not find compassion in his heart for his returning brother. He could NOT see the good! He states, "'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' (Lk.15:19,20)." He could not see the faith it took for the son to return, or the attitude with which he had to return. He should be judged! He disobeyed! What say you?

Be careful of your answer - it may come back to bite you (Heb.4:12)!

Jim