"Tis' the season to be jolly....." Or is it?? I haven't seen many jolly
people around lately, have you? As a matter of fact, while on the road
yesterday, there were two drivers in front of us getting after each other
with their vehicles. One driver was riding the tail end of someone ahead
of him too closely, while the other driver was reacting by purposely driving
at a slower pace trying to get even with the one behind him who was behaving
impatiently. Both ADULTS were waving their arms in anger and making gestures
to one another and behaving in such a miserable, childlike fashion that
even their car movements gave way to their immaturity.... My children,
who had no choice but to witness this pitiful display of theatrics framed
in nearby Christmas lights, bows and greenery, were all looking at one
another with raised eyebrows and just quietly shook their heads. And I
wondered, where IS the joy? How can it become characteristic in our life?
As children of God, are we really joyful?
Romans 14:17, "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness,
and peace, AND JOY in the Holy Ghost."
The kingdom of God does not consist in observing or not observing days,
eating or not eating meats.... Not the externals, but the internals must
be first in our lives: righteousness, peace and joy. There is something
wrong if our greatest excitement or pleasure in life comes only through
things going our way, playing, attending parties, entertainment or various
other fun activities, amen? True joy grows out of true worship... The
Bible says joy is found in the Holy Ghost and yielding to His work in
our lives, not in meat and drink and having a good time! Contrary to popular
belief, this is not the only season to be jolly. When you're right with
God, you can be jolly all the time! You see ladies, true worship involves
not only celebration, but also confession, amen? I hope in our hurry to
be jolly this season we haven't forgotten that we need to first confess
our sinful behavior.... Am I saying that because I think that confession
of sin will bring joy into our lives? That's exactly right! The problem
is, our viewpoint of joy is out of balance. In Israel's national holidays,
the balance seemed heavily tipped in favor of mostly celebration - five
joyous occasions to two solemn ones, and so it is in our lives! We tend
to seek out the "feel-good" side of Christianity. We look for any reason
to have a party, anything to avoid moments of sobriety.... True, the Bible
encourages joy, but it is referring to the joy of the Lord which can only
be found in having a right relationship with the Father. God does not
intend for worship of Him to be only celebration, but also meditation
and introspection. Serious reflection and immediate confession of sin
are essential to making way for real joy in our hearts! That means you're
going to have to consider what doesn't make you feel so good about yourself...
Can you stop partying long enough to do that, dear lady?? Confession clears
the way for proper fellowship with both God and man - something those
two drivers I told you about could stand to experience, amen?
1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Yes, confession clears the way for freedom - we're then free to be joyful!
Confession frees us up to enjoy closer fellowship with the Lord. It will
also clear our conscience and lighten our cares and yes, even allow us
to be jolly toward one another! But sadly, some Christians do not understand
how confession works, nor do they apply it to their lives. They either
don't take the time to be sober minded and truthful enough about what
God says about their sin, or they feel so guilty that they confess the
same sins over and over. Some even worry if they might have forgotten
something! Other Christians believe that God forgives them when they confess
their sins, but if they died with unconfessed sins, they would be forever
lost. That is not true! These Christians do not understand that God's
Word says the Lord WANTS to forgive us. He is not willing that any should
perish but that all should come to repentance. In fact, He allowed His
beloved Son to die just so He could pardon us. When we come to Christ,
He forgives ALL the sins we have committed or ever will commit! Now THAT'S
a gift worth receiving, amen? I hope it is a gift you have each accepted....
Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not
of yourselves, it is the gift of God:"
A gift that required a great sacrifice is not something we ought to take
for granted, amen? Might I add here that true confession also involves
a commitment on our part not to continue in sin... We surely couldn't
be genuinely confessing our sins to God if we planned and plotted to commit
them again. Be a good steward of what you have been freely given... What
influence should the gift of God should have on our hearts!
Proverbs 17:8, "A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that
hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth."
In closing, our worship of God ought to balanced by not only celebrating
who God is, and what He has done for His people, but also by what He expects
of His children, amen? Many people go through not only this holiday season,
but also their whole life with a continual inner sorrow because they are
guilty of putting all else in life ahead of Jesus Christ....
Psalm 16:4a, "Their sorrow shall be multiplied that hasten after another
god..."
Proverbs 14:13, "Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end
of that mirth is heaviness."
Is that where you are at today, dear lady? Have you put Christ somewhere
else besides first place in your life? During this busy time of year,
this time of rushing around attending various festive activities, this
time of buying gifts and receiving them, this time of baking cookies and
eating them, please - in your haste to celebrate, don't lose sight of
the fact that true joy comes from being in God’s presence, having confessed
our sins and getting our hearts in tune with Him! Are you seeking joy
in the right way, through the internals rather than the externals? If
you haven’t been joyful lately, it may be you are not be looking at life
from the right perspective - from God's perspective! Even as your schedule
fills up this holiday season, be sure you are also scheduling and guarding
your time to be with the Lord. Wise men still seek Him, amen? And they
are joyful because of it...
Psalm 16:8&9, "I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at
my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my
glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope."
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 1999 Pamela A. Iannello
