4 Days of Christmas - Joy
It is the annual open air Christmas service in Turtle Crossing Park. Pastor Charles Calvin has delivered the opening message* and now there is a time of fellowship.
Marie and Agatha, both newly arrived in Paprihaven, have been speaking with Kabai Singh, a long-time resident as Pastor Calvin greets them.
Pastor Calvin: It is a blessing to meet you ladies. I've known Kabai for many years now from his Tomper days. What do you seek in Paprihaven?
Marie: I came on a mission** but now that I'm here, I see many opportunities for happiness. Where I came from was a big war and there is war here. But I see many people with new opportunities. So, I seek to be happy, ñ'est-ce pas?
Pastor Calvin: Happiness can be good, Mademoiselle, and it has a significant place, but I'd rather you have joy.
Marie: Joy... happiness... La différence?
Pastor Calvin: Happiness is rooted in a sense of our circumstances. It comes and goes depending on whether the sun is shining, or our team wins... if things go as we desire, we are happy. Otherwise, not so much.
God distinguishes joy as independent of the events of this life because, rather than your hope being placed in the temporary, always changing, usually deteriorating aspects of this world, your hope is placed in Him.
Paul, an Apostle of Christ, wrote, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!" *** It is in the Lord that we rejoice, not in our circumstances and this is remarkably evident here because Paul wrote these words from the worst of Caesar's dungeons under threat of execution.
The Christmas gift is that when a man or woman repents and turns to the Lord Jesus Christ in belief, God gives that person Himself. Not some temporary pleasure or happiness, but Himself. And then, when we have been given that new understanding by God, of God, to God, our source of joy is unshakeable. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. " **** And that sameness is His goodness, His purity, His faithful love to His saved, every good thing. Christ Jesus "is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all." *****
Marie: Mm, I can see. A joy that cannot be taken away, ñ'est-ce pas?
Pastor Calvin: Just so, because our hope is fixed on Him. "Whom having not seen, you love; in Whom, though now you see Him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." ****** A joy unspeakable. That is, a joy that our language is too limited to encompass. We can experience it, but not adequately explain it. So, rather than trying, I always exhort all to actually experience it themselves. Repent, believe upon Christ for forgiveness, for change, and you will receive this joy.
________________________
** As seen in issue 1069:
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/26360977982/]
*** Philippians 4:4
**** Hebrews 13:8
***** 1 John 1:5
****** 1 Peter 1:8-9
4 Days of Christmas - Joy
It is the annual open air Christmas service in Turtle Crossing Park. Pastor Charles Calvin has delivered the opening message* and now there is a time of fellowship.
Marie and Agatha, both newly arrived in Paprihaven, have been speaking with Kabai Singh, a long-time resident as Pastor Calvin greets them.
Pastor Calvin: It is a blessing to meet you ladies. I've known Kabai for many years now from his Tomper days. What do you seek in Paprihaven?
Marie: I came on a mission** but now that I'm here, I see many opportunities for happiness. Where I came from was a big war and there is war here. But I see many people with new opportunities. So, I seek to be happy, ñ'est-ce pas?
Pastor Calvin: Happiness can be good, Mademoiselle, and it has a significant place, but I'd rather you have joy.
Marie: Joy... happiness... La différence?
Pastor Calvin: Happiness is rooted in a sense of our circumstances. It comes and goes depending on whether the sun is shining, or our team wins... if things go as we desire, we are happy. Otherwise, not so much.
God distinguishes joy as independent of the events of this life because, rather than your hope being placed in the temporary, always changing, usually deteriorating aspects of this world, your hope is placed in Him.
Paul, an Apostle of Christ, wrote, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!" *** It is in the Lord that we rejoice, not in our circumstances and this is remarkably evident here because Paul wrote these words from the worst of Caesar's dungeons under threat of execution.
The Christmas gift is that when a man or woman repents and turns to the Lord Jesus Christ in belief, God gives that person Himself. Not some temporary pleasure or happiness, but Himself. And then, when we have been given that new understanding by God, of God, to God, our source of joy is unshakeable. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. " **** And that sameness is His goodness, His purity, His faithful love to His saved, every good thing. Christ Jesus "is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all." *****
Marie: Mm, I can see. A joy that cannot be taken away, ñ'est-ce pas?
Pastor Calvin: Just so, because our hope is fixed on Him. "Whom having not seen, you love; in Whom, though now you see Him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." ****** A joy unspeakable. That is, a joy that our language is too limited to encompass. We can experience it, but not adequately explain it. So, rather than trying, I always exhort all to actually experience it themselves. Repent, believe upon Christ for forgiveness, for change, and you will receive this joy.
________________________
** As seen in issue 1069:
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/26360977982/]
*** Philippians 4:4
**** Hebrews 13:8
***** 1 John 1:5
****** 1 Peter 1:8-9