Deep Joy

A very good morning to you - I greet you in Jesus’ precious name!

It is Sunday morning, 11th September 2022, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

“A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.”  

Isaiah 53:3 

That is how our beloved Jesus is described in the Old Testament. In Nehemiah 8:10 we read that the joy of the Lord is my strength. You know, happiness is always short-lived, isn’t it? You get your degree after four years, it can almost be a little bit of an anti-climax, don’t you think? You have finally made the rugby team - You have been working so hard and when they give you that jersey, it is almost an anti-climax. You have had a great crop of maize or a great crop of tomatoes and you managed to pay your debt and then there is a bit of an anti-climax. Your team has won the championship, you are so happy. You have a great party but you have got to get up the next morning, haven’t you? Happiness! Happiness is short-lived!

You know, sadly, I have heard of many stand-up comedians who suffer from depression, that’s right. A couple of them have committed suicide and we know them, very famous comedians, trying to make people happy. You see, it doesn’t last. It is very, very short! But Jesus was never known as one who was a laugh a minute, was He? No, on the contrary... We have just read that He is known as a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He was often known to be a person who wept. He wept for people. He was a very serious person, but He always had a deep sense of joy. That is why people were drawn to Him always. And that is how we as Christians ought to live.

It is the joy of the future that we have in Christ. It is the joy that comes when we realize that our sins are forgiven and that God has washed them away. It is joy that makes us realize that our future is secure. And most of all, what joy to know that Jesus promised us that He would never leave us and He would never forsake us! Have a beautiful Sunday and know that our future is secure and that brings great peace and deep joy into our hearts.

Jesus bless you and goodbye.