Joy

All of us go through times when things just seem “down.” It may be that some folks have become unhappy and left the church. It may be that key people have moved away from the area. It may be that there has been a crisis or problem which has dampened the spirit of the ministry. What do we do during those times?

I’m amazed at how many Christians do not have joy. We ought to have a realization that “I’m saved, I’m on my way to Heaven, and if nothing else in this world, I will see Jesus Christ, and I will be with Him and live eternally in Heaven and all else does not matter; I have the joy of the Lord.”

Most churches want to reach people; anyone who is actually trying to fulfill the Great Commission gives serious thought to strategies for doing so. Along with an aggressive outreach effort to reach people, many churches employ programs, campaigns, and various other tactics to keep guests once they have come.

We often preach about the obligation of every believer to be involved in missions. It is not difficult to find a text to emphasize this truth. There is much in the Bible that demands that the Gospel be preached to every person in every generation.

Down through the years, one of my favorite songs by Ron Hamilton has been “Rejoice in the Lord.” Ron wrote this song back when he first was diagnosed with cancer in his left eye.

The person who is focused on God can have joy through life’s entire journey. Let’s examine Paul’s focus to find instruction as to how we, likewise, can keep a proper focus.