1 Peter 5:8a Be sober

Last night as I showed up to our alternative church meeting a dear friend thought that my greeting was joyless. He is forever trying to get me to smile. In defense of my “tude” I quoted the scripture above and answered, “I’m as sober as it gets.”

Later in the meeting I found myself laughing uncontrollably. A dear young lady who has a real love of God was having one of her moments of revelation about her relationship with our God. She was so honest and opened up herself to be seen as she truly is with Him.

The moment opened up an image for me of her with our heavenly Father and it filled my heart with so much joy and utter surprise that I could not control my joy.

This is a troubling time for me. I care about much that I see going on. That concern gives me something to pray about, bringing me into subjection to intercede for the saints, sinners, and future of us all. It is in all seriousness sobering work. There isn’t much joy in addressing such burdensome issues.

Psalm 89:15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.

Psalm 105:43 And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:

Isaiah 65:19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

Thanks be to God who brought me to the light of His countenance with such joy in this His daughter, whose heart is full of love, joy and light, and brought me out with sober joy.

Matthew 6:25b Take no thought for your life,

Just before this verse the Lord taught us how to pray. Nowhere within that prayer was there one line concerning life. There is give us our daily bread but since Jesus is the bread of life, then that too oculd be seen as give me Jesus every day.

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Seems like a conflict of interests doesn’t it? In everything is an all consuming arena. That takes into account life concerns, things we are told not to think about.

Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Fowls of the air are taken by predators all the time. In this we are not all that different. Ah, but the birds aren’t given His spirit.

Perhaps it is this gift from God that allows us to do what they cannot, give thanks in the middle of our tribulations.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

He said we will have tribulation, and He has proven himself right, we do. Being of good cheer in the midst of that it on us, it is not given to us as other gifts, it is up to us to respond with thanksgiving.

He didn’t say it would be easy, but giving concern to our lives blocks the answers to our prayers and supplications.

Ungrateful is such an ugly word.