Joy

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Thursday morning, the 11th of May, 2023, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

“… for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10

“Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven,…”
Matthew 5:12

Now, joy is not a case of laughing, it is not a funny ha-ha kind. No, no - it is a deep knowing that you and I have a wonderful future awaiting us in Heaven. Philippians 1:21, Paul says: 

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  

You cannot frighten a Christian with Heaven! Because if he lives, he is living for Jesus and if he is dying he is going home to be with Jesus forever. It is a deep knowing that at the end of this life, we shall meet the Master, face to face and that we shall be reunited with our loved ones who have gone on ahead before us.

I remember many years ago hearing a story by a Christian nursing sister. She told us that when she goes into the ward or the room of a dying unbeliever, she said it was a horrible experience often. There was cursing, grinding of teeth, anger, fear, screaming, not knowing where they are going, but when she went into the room of a dying believer there was a sweet fragrance in that room, there was a deep joy, love, peace and assurance. Yes, a confident joy that that person was going home to meet their beloved Jesus, face to face. 

Today, remember, the joy of the Lord is our strength. We have a future awaiting us and we need to keep focused on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Have a wonderful day, 
Jesus bless you and goodbye.