When Joy and Sorrow Meet
“Sing to the Lord, you saints of his; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes with the morning.” *
A special Christmas tradition that my stepdaughter, Shanda Lowery-sachs, and I look forward to each year is attending the Women’s Advent Tea together.
The tea is organized and hosted by women from our church with a speaker for each of the four weeks in Advent —hope, joy, peace and love — and special Christmas music, in addition to the hot tea and dessert served at beautifully decorated tables.
Attending the tea sets the stage for Christmas, with its focus on Jesus and the difference knowing Him has made in our lives. With such unusual circumstances this year, plans have changed. Rather than meeting together at church, ladies will be hosting the tea in their own homes, inviting family members or friends to come and watch a taped program together.
Early in November I received a call from one of the ladies on the planning committee, asking if I would be willing to participate as a speaker. Since the topics of “peace” and “love” had already been taken, I decided to choose “joy,” wondering how that would work out since we were in the middle of a construction project at our house with much banging and noise in the basement!
My talk was finished on the day we were to do the taping, thanks to the Lord for helping me stay calm and have time to prepare. As I walked up the aisle of the sanctuary to the podium and looked out over the deserted pews, I could see Al sitting in the last row. He had wanted to come along for support, much appreciated for sure!
I had been instructed to look up to the balcony where the video camera was located. As my eyes were directed upward, I noticed a round, stained glass window above the last pew in the balcony. The sun streamed in through the glass, making the colored pieces sparkle like jewels. It was a beautiful sight, one that was missed when looking forward toward the altar.
Any feeling of stage fright or anxiety seemed to melt away and joy filled my heart — the joy of knowing I was loved and Jesus was present. It’s good to give a talk on joy when filled with joy! There’s no use trying to fake it!
When the taping was finished, the person doing the recording thanked me. That was it… no need to do it again, thankfully. A few days later Al took a picture of Shanda and me lighting a candle to use for a video clip at the end of the program, when traditionally candles are lit and the women sing “Silent Night,” before departing.
It felt good keeping our Christmas tradition anyway, in spite of the fact we were at home rather than at church, without any tea and a couple weeks before the beginning of the advent season.
While I was writing this article for the “Good News!” column, a friend called and asked if I would pray for her mother, Ruth, who was slipping away. We set a time; and a few hours later with the family gathered around Ruth’s bedside and speaker
phone on, I prayed. Afterwards, Ruth’s husband and her two grown daughters joined me in praying the Lord’s prayer, believing Ruth would somehow be able to hear and would feel God’s presence. It was a touching experience for me, one in which I could feel their sorrow, yet at the same time sense the Lord’s presence and peace.
We have all experienced many disappoint
ments, sorrow, grief over the loss of loved ones, pain and suffering. Yet the joy that comes from having a personal relationship with the living God through Jesus Christ sustains us and brings hope. * Psalm 30:5 NIV “O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee O Israel”
(“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” vs. 4)
Judy Lowery is a former resident of Springville and lives in Michigan. The Good News column appears on the Religion pages of the Recorder. You can read more at Judy’s blog, goodnewswithjudy.blogspots.com
The Apostle Paul speaks to the believers in Galatia and tells them he’s astonished! Why?
First, Galatians 1:6, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel.” (ESV)
Paul is astonished because the Christians in Galatia are deserting Him who called them by the grace of Christ! They’re deserting Christ by turning to something other than the Gospel of Christ whose grace called them earlier.
Paul clarifies in the next few verses there’s no other Gospel, but some people are distorting the Gospel of Christ who called them by His grace.
Paul even says if he and his people came to them with a gospel other than the gospel of Christ they received by grace, let that guy be accursed. He says the same thing about the notion an angel brought a different gospel.
THE Gospel of grace is, first of all good news! The word Gospel means “good news.” It’s good news because it calls us back into relationship with God by grace.
Grace is a gift we don’t deserve. What is that gift? The gift is the substitute! Jesus was the substitute for us at our execution for sin! The payment for sin requires the giving of life and shedding of blood.
When humanity was declared guilty of breaking God’s holiness in their conduct God said, “I will come to earth as My Son and pay for their sin.” Jesus crawled in the electric chair and took the payment for our sin on Himself! The cross was simply capital punishment first century style.
You and I were the folks on death row and when Jesus stood in for us to pay for our sin and set us free that’s good news!
You have to ask why anyone would desert such a gospel of grace? That’s why Paul is astonished!
Second, where did Paul get this Gospel of Grace? Galatians 1:12, “For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” (ESV)
No one dropped by Paul’s house and gave him lessons on the gospel. He wasn’t taught the good news by a man. He says he received it by way of a revelation of Jesus Christ.
The person of Jesus Himself was “uncovered” or revealed to Paul personally and Jesus gave the Gospel to Paul personally. Jesus returned to Heaven in 33 AD. Paul was converted to Christ on the Damascus road sometime between 37 and 39 AD.
Following his conversion Paul received the gospel of Grace directly from Jesus by way of revelation. Jesus had been back in Heaven with the Father for at least 4 years when Paul received the Gospel he preached by way of Jesus personally being revealed to him.
The point is the Gospel didn’t originate with some man on the street! It came to Paul directly from the Messiah, Jesus in Heaven by way of revelation.
Paul is astonished because the believers in Galatia had deserted Jesus and His Gospel of Grace that originated from the Messiah Himself!
Third, what’s the problem? Galatians 2:21, “I do not nullify the Grace of God, for if justification were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” (ESV)
The problem is the believers in Galatia had gone back to a system that nullified the grace of God. They had gone back to the law for salvation.
He says if justification were through the law Christ died for no purpose. Justification is legal right standing with God. If right standing with God is through law keeping, then we can save ourselves by keeping some legal standard and you have to ask why Christ died in our place on the cross.
I was stationed at Fort Devens, Mass., for advanced training in the Army for about a year. Fort Devens was in the town of Ayers, Mas. It]’s now closed but was up and running in 1968 when I arrived.
All over town people had signs on their lawns that said, “dogs and soldiers keep off the lawn.” Imagine the sign is the law for salvation. Every time I saw one of those signs while walking down the sidewalk I stepped over and walked on the lawn.
First, our nature is to break laws! If you accept a legal standard for salvation and break the law, you have forfeited the opportunity to save yourself!
If you have to not walk on people’s lawn to earn your salvation and you walk on the lawn you’re lost forever and for good! We all walk on the lawn!
The Galatian believers had put themselves under the Law of Moses to gain salvation, thus losing salvation because it’s by grace based on Jesus’ payment at the cross.
The folks in Galatia had forfeited Grace by going back to law for salvation, making it clear Christ died for no purpose. No wonder Paul is astonished!
Fourth, what’s the result? Galatians 5:4, “You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.” (ESV)
I find that verse to be rugged. Why? Because it makes it clear if you go back to the law to find right standing with God you’re cut off or severed from Christ and you have fallen away from Grace!
Folks, if you’re severed from Christ and have fallen away from grace you’re not headed for Heaven! Jesus is the only way back to the Father and His grace is the only way to have right standing with God.
If you go back to keeping the law expecting a “not guilty” verdict from God, you’re guaranteed a “guilty” verdict because we have all walked on the lawn!
This misunderstanding is rampant in the Christian Community!
Many good people think they’re saved because they go to the church their parents went too.
Going to a particular church doesn’t save you any more than going into a barn makes you a cow! Jesus saves you when you trust what He paid at the cross to cover your sin!
Thinking you have to be good enough to be saved, then that will save you is a legal system!
Instead, know Jesus took your sin on the cross and though you have walked on the grass, what He paid for you is all you need! Rest in His grace and leave law keeping in the past!
There will be no need for the Apostle Paul to be astonished about you!
Tom West works in advanced planning with Myers Funeral Service in Porterville and can be reached on his cell phone at 602.758.1168. You can watch Tom’s messages on his Youtube channel at Life In the God Lane.