Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Turning sorrow into joy

What brings joy?  Certainly it is not possessions.  How many people have won the lottery only to have their lives come apart afterward?  Many families fight over inheritances only to destroy relationships.  David says, "Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips."  Psalm 16:4
The other gods that we run after are money, pleasure, power, self but none of these will bring joy.  They may bring temporary happiness but it is only for a time.
David ends this Psalm with these words, "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."  Joy is found in the presence of the Lord.  Other translations such as the ESV say, "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."  I like this translation.  It tells us that in the presence of God there is joy.  Notice the tense of the verb.  It does not say that there will be but that there is joy.  We can experience the presence of the Lord and His joy today.
What are you looking to for joy?  Remember that other gods will not bring joy.








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