Posted on 02/17/2023 8:02:44 AM PST by metmom
“‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted’” (Matthew 5:4).
The world still operates according to the old popular song lyrics that say, “Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag, and smile, smile, smile.” This philosophy basically tells us to hide all our problems and pretend to be happy; and of course people apply this outlook to sin all the time.
Nevertheless Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn.” Godly mourning and confession of sins bring the only kind of happiness worth having—godly happiness that no amount of human effort, optimistic pretense, or positive thinking can produce.
There is a real need in today’s church to cry instead of laugh. The foolishness, frivolity, and embracing of the world’s view of happiness in the name of Christianity should make us mourn, because we know the difference between empty happiness and true happiness. God’s rebuke to the self-satisfied and indulgent happy is strong: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you” (James 4:8–10).
True happiness does not ignore sin or make light of it; instead it sorrows over sin, turns from it, and flees to God for genuine forgiveness. And in so doing, it finds lasting joy.
Ask Yourself
Does this message sound depressing and cheerless to you? Have you bought the world’s line that happiness can be found only by ignoring sin, not by dealing with it? Aren’t you tired, though, of constantly coming up empty, never quite satisfied? Run weeping into the welcoming arms of God’s forgiveness.
From Daily Readings from the Life of Christ, Vol. 1, John MacArthur. Copyright © 2008. Used by permission of Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL 60610, www.moodypublishers.com.
Studying God’s Word ping
Here’s the truth about suffering: your response to suffering is where nobility comes in, not what you’re suffering.
I don’t need someone to tell me how to lose my joy.
I need to be told how NOT to lose my joy. :-)
Thank you, Metmom!
What works for me, Jim, is getting on my knees before God with true humility and true tears of repentance.
You’d think that after so many years there would be nothing left for which to repent. Not so. At least in my case. I find new things every day to repent of.
When I’m at my lowest, He strengthens me and my joy in Him returns when I’ve been forgiven and the humility is exchanged again for His joy!
God bless you, Jim.
Soldiers carry kit bags, sinners don't usually carry kit bags.
Lyrics">edit]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO9B5cNN2tA
- Private Perks is a funny little codger
- With a smile a funny smile.
- Five feet none, he’s an artful little dodger
- With a smile a funny smile.
- Flush or broke he’ll have his little joke,
- He can’t be suppress’d.
- All the other fellows have to grin
- When he gets this off his chest, Hi!
- Chorus (sung twice)
- Pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag,
- And smile, smile, smile,
- While you’ve a lucifer to light your fag,
- Smile, boys, that’s the style.
- What’s the use of worrying?
- It never was worth while, so
- Pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag,
- And smile, smile, smile.
- Private Perks went a-marching into Flanders
- With his smile his funny smile.
- He was lov’d by the privates and commanders
- For his smile his funny smile.
- When a throng of Bosches came along
- With a mighty swing,
- Perks yell’d out, “This little bunch is mine!
- Keep your heads down, boys and sing, Hi!
- Private Perks he came back from Bosche-shooting
- With his smile his funny smile.
- Round his home he then set about recruiting
- With his smile his funny smile.
- He told all his pals, the short, the tall,
- What a time he’d had;
- And as each enlisted like a man
- Private Perks said ‘Now my lad,’ Hi!
A large amount of covers of the song replace the lyric "While you've a lucifer to light your fag" with "Don't let your joy and laughter hear the snag", due to the health effects of smoking.
Thanks for this.
Everything, everything, comes down to a personal relationship with Jesus. There is nothing Jesus said, did, or lived, which does not answer everything.
Jesus suffered so we do not have to suffer.
Nowadays, the principal — fundamental — question, is the historical reality of Jesus. An objective inquiry into this fact, leads to an objective another fact, that Jesus was the Son of God.
Nowadays, people are (mostly) unconcerned about historical reality, let alone the importance of historical reality. If they have heard of Jesus, He exists in the realm of mythology or legend.
The words of Jesus, and Paul who explains them from the direct teaching of Jesus Himself, are at best pretty mysticisms irrelevant to actual reality.
Those who espouse the Truth nowadays need to start with history and historical reality. Many, many, start with the consequences of the reality.
God intervened in history, God intervened in life. This (IMO) is the reality which needs to be super-ordinated.
In centuries past, this was not the primary issue. Now it is. The correct word (for instance) in describing the relationship between the Father and the Son is far, far off the concerns of 2023.
Jesus lived. He died for us. He was sent by the Father. He was resurrected.
These are the basic facts Christians need to explicate, especially those who are pastors.
Exactly.
Losing your joy seems to be a pretty much sure thing when you are suffering.
In his prayer of confession David asked the Lord,
"Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit"
(Psalm 51:12)
Note that David did NOT say, because of his sins of adultery and murder,
"...return to me my SALVATION.", but the JOY of it.
Yes, very significant difference.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.