Jul
9
2015
Hidden Joy
Posted in Salvation 2 Comments
Little redheaded Elizabeth was having one of those special moments with her daddy.
It was an early episode of The Waltons.
Elizabeth wanted to ask her daddy a question.
She had an important question that needed an answer.
Daddy, where did you find me? She asked wondering how she came to be.
Hiding behind one of your mama’s smiles, baby.
She was satisfied with his answer.
She turned and gave him a glance over her shoulder.
Hiding behind one of your mama’s smiles.
The answer couldn’t have been more perfect for a little girl.
It is truth without too much information so that the answer would become meaningless.
It is the perfect answer for the perfect question.
Daddy, where did you find me?
The answer Elizabeth’s daddy gave her implies joy.
Joy that is hidden but joy that is there nonetheless.
Joy that permeates.
Joy that is fruitful.
Joy is sorely lacking in our culture.
Joy is even lacking in our churches.
Everyone is focused on being happy.
Happiness is terribly fleeting.
Joy is a well, deep within.
Joy cannot help but spill over.
Joy is noticed.
Joy is contagious.
Joy is like a magnet.
People want to be around joyful people.
Their joy is palpable.
Their joy is real.
We, who are in Christ, are not doing a very good job of showing our joy.
We become cynical with the world around us.
We become judgmental with those who are different from us.
We become legalistic in matters of faith.
There is One Way.
That Way is a Person.
That Person is Jesus Christ.
That is not legalism, judgmental-ism, or cynicism.
It is Peace that calms our soul.
It is Life that feeds and nourishes.
It is Living Water that quenches.
It is Truth that saves.
Daddy where did you find me?
Elizabeth is not the only one who asks that question.
We who are sinners ask that of our Heavenly Father.
Daddy, Abba, where did you find me?
What made You seek me and come to find me?
Grace.
Amazing Grace.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me….
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.
T’was Grace that taught…
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear…
the hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares…
we have already come.
T’was Grace that brought us safe thus far…
and Grace will lead us home.
The Lord has promised good to me…
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be…
as long as life endures.
When we’ve been here ten thousand years…
bright shining as the sun.
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise…
then when we’ve first begun.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me….
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.
(Amazing Grace by John Newton)
We are lost in the wilderness of our sin.
With no hope and no direction, we panic.
We cannot get out of our sinful wilderness on our own.
We cannot pull up our bootstraps and walk away.
We call for help.
Even before our call, He is there.
He, who is The Way, will get us out.
He, who is the Good Shepherd, will lead us.
All at once the path is clear.
All at once we who were blind can now see.
All at once we who were lost are now found.
All at once we who were bound for destruction are now saved.
Daddy, where did You find me?
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature, objects of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages, He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:1-10)
It is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves.
It is a gift of God.
It is not by works so that no one can boast.
You, who were lost in the wilderness of your sin, have been found.
Hidden Joy in His beloved Son.
Joy that permeates.
Joy that overflows.
We, who are in Christ, are without excuse.
Where is your joy?
Church, where is your joy?
We who are in Christ possess a great Gift.
Do others know about that Gift by our faces and by our countenance?
It is too hard out there to be anything but joyful.
That joy will be so attractive to the Chicken Little’s of the world.
The sky is falling. The sky is falling.
We are rescued; we are saved from the coming wrath.
The world needs to see your joy.
That joy will be the very thing that captures hearts.
That joy will be the Balm of Gilead to a hurting world.
That inexplicable joy will point others to the Lord Jesus.
Ask your heavenly Father the question.
It is a question He loves to answer.
Daddy, where did you find me?
Hiding behind the smile of My Son.
Beautifully written piece and so true. Why is it so easy to find fault with others and be in a state of gloom and doom when we have Christ as our Savior? There is such joy in the Christian life that many Christians never seem to feel (or at least their outside actions don’t show it). We need to remember that to influence others to be believers we need to show joy in Who we believe in!
Sue,
Joy should be the definitive characteristic of the church of God.
The world needs to see the joy and the peace that comes from being in Christ. That joy will attract an unbelieving world to God’s people and ultimately to Him.
Gina