It’s difficult to listen to the news broadcast these days. It seems that our world is plagued by trouble, war, murder, crime, and death. Then there is the fighting that is going on in our local community, and perhaps our own families. When I speak to my neighbours, they tell stories of pain and sickness. I have my own aches and pains; and my own worries and fears. Even if I did tell you about them, would you even care?
In my devotion this morning, Paul David Tripp’s writing really resonated with me.
Tripp refers to the Christmas carol, ‘Joy to the World’, written by Isaac Watts in 1719. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joy_to_the_World Tripp quotes verse three:
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.
Behold, I am making all things new
Revelation 21:5 (NIV)
Tripp writes: “Are you tired of the futility and frustration of this broken world? Are you exhausted by sin, suffering, and death?
Are you burdened with the pain that lives inside you and outside you?
At times, do you wonder if anyone knows, if anyone understands, and if anyone cares?
Then the words of this great hymn [Joy to the World], and this encouraging passage from the final book of the Bible are for you.
Your Redeemer knows. Your Redeemer understands. Your Redeemer cares.
His grace has been unleashed and its work will not be done until every last sin-broken thing has been fully and completely made new again. Be encouraged, your Redeemer is at work!”
https://store.paultripp.com/pages/new-morning-mercies
We live in a broken, sinful world. It wasn’t like this when God made it. But the sin of our ancestors, Adam and Eve, brought a broken relationship with God, our maker.
The penalty for sin is death. Eternal death and separation from God. This wasn’t in God’s original plan, but we had free choice, and we chose to disobey.
God knew this would happen. And amazingly, He also had a plan to restore our relationship.
The price still had to be paid. The Bible says “The wages of sin is death. He didn’t have to do it, but Jesus CHOSE to die on the cross, to pay for our sin.
This is free gift for ALL people.
We don’t have to do anything to earn it. In fact, we can’t do anything to earn God’s love or to work our way into heaven. The only way is through Jesus. He has done all the work for us.
Jesus took on all my ugly sin, so that I could be forgiven.
I will never understand why God chose me, but I thank God that He loved me so much that Jesus died for me, so that I don’t have to suffer in eternal punishment.
Jesus’ gift cost him everything. It costs us nothing.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (NIV)
PRAYER: Dear God, we are frightened and shocked by what is happening in the world today. In the news we hear of terrible things. Our own communities are troubled with conflict. Our own families are not always happy places. There is pain and sickness. Worries and fears. I want to bring all these worries and fears to you.
We know we live in a world cursed by sin. Thank you that Jesus came to pay the price for our sin. Thank you that Jesus comes to make His blessings flow, far as the curse is found.
Thank you God, that even when it seems as if no one cares about me, that YOU care. And that you love me to death and beyond. Amen.
You can click here to listen to the Christmas carol, Joy to the World
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Do you have heavy burdens?
Do you sometimes wonder if anybody really cares about you?
Do you sometimes wonder what God is doing in your life and in the world?
Is the Christmas carol, ‘Joy to the World,’ able to give you comfort?