Sunday, October 23, 2005
Joy for the day
My job places me in a position of hearing, at times, information about people which is not necessarily favorable. It's part of the job -- I understand that. But a very real and daily struggle for me involves making a decision, one conversation at a time, as to whether the information which I am giving and receiving is NECESSARY for me to be able to do my job effectively -- or is it merely gossip. I confess that too often, it is only gossip.
Psalm 1:1 says, "Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers." When I first read this verse this morning, I wondered, "How can I better define the word scoffer so that I know what it looks like?" Here's what Webster's Dictionary says:
> scoff -- means an expression of scorn
> scorn -- is a feeling of contempt and loathing toward something considered
inferior or unworthy
> loathe -- means to dislike greatly, often with disgust or intolerance
If I put all that together, it could look something like this: Oh the joys of those who do NOT follow un-Godly advice, or stand around with others joining in conversations that express dislike, disgust, or intolerance toward something or someone that we feel needs to improve.
Ouch.
James 3:5 gives this warning, "The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do." We all know the damage. We've seen it happen to others. We've experienced it for ourselves. Yet we continue to criticize and gossip -- thinking perhaps that our comments are justified or that "in the big scheme of things" our few words don't really matter. But God says that they matter. If we turn around (my interpretation) of Psalm 1:1, it could then read as, "Those who stand around, joining in conversations that express dislike, disgust, or intolerance toward something or someone that we feel needs to improve WILL NOT HAVE JOY."
I heard a sermon in which the pastor said, "Joy is not the absence of trouble -- it is the presence of God." Using this definition of joy, we can then determine that "standing around joining in...." will rob us of the presence of God in our lives.
Teaching is a hard job. The mental, physical, and emotional demands at times can sap our strength and leave us longing for the school year to be over. But Nehemiah 8:10 reminds us that, "The joy of the Lord is our strength."
> Where does our strength for each day come from? The joy of the Lord
> What is joy? The presence of the Lord
> What does Psalm 1:1 promise us? "Oh the joys of those who do NOT ...stand
around... join in...."
...........................................................................................................................................................
"Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use His words to teach and counsel each other... and whatever you do or say let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through Him to God the Father." -- Colossians 3:16
Psalm 1:1 says, "Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers." When I first read this verse this morning, I wondered, "How can I better define the word scoffer so that I know what it looks like?" Here's what Webster's Dictionary says:
> scoff -- means an expression of scorn
> scorn -- is a feeling of contempt and loathing toward something considered
inferior or unworthy
> loathe -- means to dislike greatly, often with disgust or intolerance
If I put all that together, it could look something like this: Oh the joys of those who do NOT follow un-Godly advice, or stand around with others joining in conversations that express dislike, disgust, or intolerance toward something or someone that we feel needs to improve.
Ouch.
James 3:5 gives this warning, "The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do." We all know the damage. We've seen it happen to others. We've experienced it for ourselves. Yet we continue to criticize and gossip -- thinking perhaps that our comments are justified or that "in the big scheme of things" our few words don't really matter. But God says that they matter. If we turn around (my interpretation) of Psalm 1:1, it could then read as, "Those who stand around, joining in conversations that express dislike, disgust, or intolerance toward something or someone that we feel needs to improve WILL NOT HAVE JOY."
I heard a sermon in which the pastor said, "Joy is not the absence of trouble -- it is the presence of God." Using this definition of joy, we can then determine that "standing around joining in...." will rob us of the presence of God in our lives.
Teaching is a hard job. The mental, physical, and emotional demands at times can sap our strength and leave us longing for the school year to be over. But Nehemiah 8:10 reminds us that, "The joy of the Lord is our strength."
> Where does our strength for each day come from? The joy of the Lord
> What is joy? The presence of the Lord
> What does Psalm 1:1 promise us? "Oh the joys of those who do NOT ...stand
around... join in...."
...........................................................................................................................................................
"Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use His words to teach and counsel each other... and whatever you do or say let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through Him to God the Father." -- Colossians 3:16
