The following are some notes and quotes I jotted down this morning while listening to a podcast by Rob Bell, pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church. The Scripture was Philippians 4 beginning in verse 4.
Eucharist means 'the good gift'.
To rejoice is to be aware that all of life is a gift.
Joy is learning to discern that God is up to something even in this (whatever your 'this' may be).
Joy is learning to perceive things that run counter to prevailing wisdom about how the world works.
Practice the discipline of becoming aware of all of the gifts that are around you.
My conclusion: Joy and rejoicing aren't passive attributes. They come from a conscious effort on my part. An effort, a discipline to take thoughts captive. Thoughts that are ungrateful, selfish, pitying self. It is actively renewing my mind to think like Jesus.
Joy is not just a feeling. It is trust in God's sovereignty and omniscience. Resting in His power to control my life, to fulfill the plans He has for me.
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1 comment:
You're right. Action, action, action! Faith, joy and love all require work on our part to receive the fullness of their gifts.
Christianity is a far more active endeavor than many people realize. Sadly our culture places such tremendous value on feelings instead of discipline.
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