The Pursuit of Joy

Although our Ladies Bible Study will not be meeting this week, I am sending you two quotes concerning our pursuit of joy. For many years these thoughts have been the source of profitable meditation for me.

"Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." CS Lewis

And then some thought provoking words from John Piper.

"...we do not make a god out of joy. We show, rather, that whatever we find greatest joy in is our God. And the greater the joy in him, the greater the glory we give. Where our greatest Treasure is, there is our heart’s greatest pleasure. ...No conflict! God’s glory and our joy rise together. For God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him."

What a rich, thriving soul we can have if we turn whole-heartedly to the God of the Universe for forgiveness and new life—and ultimately, joy.

HAVE I BEEN FORGIVEN MUCH?

LUKE 7:47 "Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little."  When we study the life of Mary Magdalene this verse has to stand out and cause us a good deal of reflection concerning our own sinfulness, forgiveness, and love for Christ.  Have we been forgiven little, or much?  We don't understand the holiness of God very well if any of us think we have been forgiven little.  The clearest measure of our sinfulness is found in Christ's clear presentation of the two greatest commandments; 1-loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and 2-loving your neighbor as yourself.  No one has ever come close to doing this.  We all fall way short of God's standard; we all need to be forgiven much!  A natural reflection of our understanding of God's forgiveness is our love and cheerful service for Him.

This Thursday morning we will be thinking more deeply about this concept as we study the life of Mary Magdalene.  Plan to join us.