Scripture: Hebrews 11 v 6: "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."
Psalms 16 v 11: "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
As families our greatest joy comes when our children, whether still young, or adults with children of their own, want to spend some quality time with us. We get this love from our Heavenly Father, who pours out His joy upon us when we pray and fellowship with Him. Why is it so sweet? Because He is the One who loves us most.
Our faith must be visible, active and bearing fruit to please our Father in Heaven. We must know why we have confidence in Him. We must have a testimony of how He helped us when we were under enemy pressure. We should use the way He has blessed us to share the truth with ungodly or unsaved people with whom we have contact.
Firstly we must believe that He is! That He exists and is real, loving and able to do more than we could ever imagine. This causes our faith to grow and the more it grows, the more powerful it becomes. Faith is like a muscle, the more we use it the stronger it gets.
Sadly, the world is full of those who mock our faith in a God they have never believed in. We have to live out the Bible they have never read. We must be silent witnesses until they get curious enough to seek God for themselves. We do this by showing love and tolerance to the unloveable. By being patient with those who are erratic and reckless. By giving with no expectation of being repaid.
Secondly, He is a rewarder to those who seek Him with all their heart. He never disappoints those who give up their fleshly pleasures to spend quality time in His presence. They have a sincere desire to know Him, worship Him, and to put their needs before Him.
Our rewards include a deeper walk with Jesus; answered prayer; meeting the needs of others effortlessly; receiving revelations and prophecy of the future moves of God and the joy of His presence continually. And of course, that dynamite retirement plan, Heaven and eternity with our Father, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and all our family and friends who truly love Him.
The Lord will take us to the path that leads to Life. It is a strait and narrow way, or a disciplined and completely moral way. We are new creations who choose righteousness over sin, and light over darkness. The world does not understand us, nor love us, but tries to highlight every lapse we make and judge us harshly for it.
Matthew 7 v 13 - 14: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
Beware of the broad way, which those who are very broad-minded follow. There is a lack of discipline that avoids accountability, plus allowing untested doctrines to become part of Christian living. Many are with them believing there is safety in numbers.
Jesus warns us that it leads to destruction. He warns us against false prophets who are wolves in sheep's clothing. Predators, scavengers, gluttonous wolves who equate success with lavish lifestyles. Jesus says we must not be deceived. By the mounting number of digital scammers we need His help to discern truth from error.
They think that our Father does not see what the wolves do behind closed doors. Taking drugs, carnal sins and idolatry. He sees. He waits for their conscience to awaken from its dullness. Until He finally, sadly, pulls the plug. They will miss the joy of His presence, maybe for eternity.
Success is when we have this joy in the Lord whether we are poor or rich. To God success is when we heed His Word and demonstrate our love and obedience to Him. When we love our neighbour, or give to the needy, or go out on the mission field to save the lost. God rewards unselfish behaviour and encourages us to keep going.
Nehemiah 8 v 10 - 12: "Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.
12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them."
The joy that comes from sharing our blessings with others truly strengthens us. We cannot out-give God. When we give out of a cheerful heart He multiplies those blessings back to us through many different ways. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit indwelling our hearts. He is the sap in our branches which produces good fruit. Joy is much stronger than happiness. Joy is spiritual while happiness is emotional which can disappear without warning. Joy remains under changing circumstances.
Success in God's eyes is when our lives become an instrument in our Father's hand to be a lighthouse for those souls in the world who are losing the battle against sin, sickness, or death. They seek a different outcome. That is when our testimonies help to encourage those seeking hearts to find the Father and be reconciled to Him.
For we all went astray and filled the God-shaped part of ourselves with every distraction, entertainment, alternative religion, career, addiction, rebellion, idols, lies and stubborn clinging to worldly realities. We rejected the healing power of God through the stripes of Jesus, for the wisdom of medical practitioners who have zero spiritual understanding. We can label our lives before salvation as The Devil's Alternative!
2 Chronicles 16 v 12 - 13: "And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.
13 And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign."
Let us seek healing from the Lord first, as it is part of our covenant with Him. If healing does not occur then absolutely visit a doctor. I have trusted God with my health from 1979 to the present and He has truly looked after me. I do not even know the name of any doctor in the area where I live. By the stripes on Jesus' back, we are healed. I give Him all praise and glory for the joy of being healed by Him.
Isaiah 64 v 4: "For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him."
To wait on the Lord can be explained this way:
W = Wisdom
A = Anointing
I = Instruction
T = Timing
When all these four things manifest in our situation, that which we have waited and prayed for, happens! This brings the joy of the Lord in our lives into a full and wonderful experience of Him in our midst.
1 Corinthians 2 v 9 - 10: "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."
Words are inadequate to describe being in the presence of our Lord Jesus. The very air around us is supercharged with something that is foreign to this world. We don't have to wonder what it is, if we know Him, it can only be Him who has graced us with His presence. In the midst of the turmoil of this world, the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, snow in Summer in South Africa, financial crises, famines, blackouts, corruption, crime - Jesus makes us feel alive and blessed as no one else can ever do.
When we go astray we forsake the joy of His presence for worldly happiness. Our hearts can easily break under the load of sorrow this world gives us. However, its often through the heartbreak that we re-enter the presence of our Father, and the relief of forgiveness. His acceptance restores our joy.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Your presence is awesome in the lives of those who diligently seek You and You never fail to amaze us. Lead us ever closer to Your Light so we may reflect Your glory and inspire others. The joy of the Lord is our strength. In Jesus' name. Amen.