Isaiah 65
JOY

 In a world like ours where godlessness, violence, stress, worry and fear seem to increase day by day, joy can seem like a lost emotion. Some people try to manufacture it through parties, wild living, alcohol and drugs, but while some of these may give moments of pleasure, it is short lived and the downside is often far worse than any good we might have felt. The only place we can find true and lasting joy is in the Lord our God and in the hope he has offered.

Comparing people that serve God and people that choose to do their own things, God says, “My servants will eat, but you will go hungry; my servants will drink, but you will go thirsty; my servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame. My servants will sing out of the joy of their hearts, but you will cry out from anguish of heart and wail in brokenness of spirit.” (Isaiah 65 v 13 – 14).

And speaking of the future new heavens and new earth God will create, he says, “But be glad and rejoice for ever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people.” (v 18 – 19).

True joy is only found in the Lord. In him we can have joy now, even though circumstances might be horrible, and in him we are certain to have joy for ever more.

May we have joy in the Lord this week.

With love in our Lord,
Robert