To Know the King!

(Photo by Daniel Reche, pexels)

To know you is to know the King! 
To love you is to learn to sing 
the praise song that will never end! 
You’ve called me daughter, servant, friend! 
I’ve longed to find you, so I ran 
this strong pursuit—into your hand! 
Holy One, you draw me in, 
and clean me up from wandering, sin. 
You pour love into my thirsty soul 
and live there, making the broken whole. 

You have a priority: unity,
the bond of eternal community.
Together we walk this rugged slope
holding hands, eyes on the hope
that lies ahead: my forever home,
where I’ll join the saints around your throne.
To love you is to open a door
that shows me nothing matters more
than to be all yours, following through,
completing what you tell me to do.

When I was a young teen at Ivory Coast Academy, our mission’s boarding school, I was going through a phase of intense spiritual hunger. It had been encouraged by my dorm parents, Don and Glenna Bigelow, during my eighth-grade year through rich Bible devotions each evening. I became convinced that I was spending too much of my time reading every novel I could get hold of (bookworm that I was), so tried something new: I checked out Christian books about spiritual growth.

The one that truly fueled my journey was The Pursuit of God, by A.W. Tozer. I’ve read it at least two other times in my life as well. What intrigued me was Tozer’s clear teaching that we have an important part to play in maturing spiritually: we must actually chase after knowing God! He wrote: “The impulse to pursue God originates with God, but the outworking of that impulse is our following hard after him.”[1]

If we need examples of what it means to literally run after knowing God, they are easy to find in the psalms. The longing to experience his presence may become especially strong when we go through hard times, waiting for a way out of grief or suffering:

A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah. You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. 6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 8 I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.  (Ps. 63:1-7 NIV)

David was desperate (“perhaps this refers to the period described in 1 Sam 23–24 or to the incident mentioned in 2 Sam 15:23.”)[2] Nevertheless he was seeking God with everything that was in him, citing him as his only hope. And even this search was turning his heart to praise as he remembered other times when he had experienced God.

I love the way Tozer explains this kind of longing and pursuit that is laced with such comfort:

“To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul’s paradox of love, scorned indeed by the too-easily-satisfied religionist, but justified in happy experience by the children of the burning heart.”[3]

The “children of the burning heart”! Does this resonate with you? Our part in this paradox is to love our God and seek him with passion. He promises that then we will move into intensely intimate relationship:

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jer. 29:13 NIV)

Paul was an example of what this means when this burning desire is lived out:

8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  . . . 10 I want to know Christ– yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (Phil. 3:8,10-12 NIV)

Nothing is worth as much as knowing Jesus! It requires pressing forward, every moment set apart for him. We English speakers have access to the Word, and truly digesting it is an essential element—but not sufficient by itself. We must live it out, obeying what the Lord underlines for us there and in our experiences. Remember the way Jesus told his disciples, and us, what we must do to be able to live in loving relationship with him:

10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  (Jn. 15:10 NIV)

The key to remaining in this love relationship with our Lord is to do what he says, to complete what he gives us to do. Then we will remain firmly attached to him, getting to know him better and better as we experience his love and direction.

So let’s press on, responding to his invitation and promise that we will indeed find him personally when we pursue him with all that is within us! There is nothing worth more than knowing him—even when it requires suffering. Yes, we can almost run out of breath when we run with all our might, physically. But he will reach out to us and help us run straight into his loving heart, showing us increasingly who he is. He will satisfy our hunger for him with the “richest of foods” (Ps 63.5)—spiritual sustenance beyond anything earth can offer!

[1] A.W.Tozer, The Pursuit of God, (Christian Publications,1993), 11.

[2] NET study note, Ps. 63.1.

[3] Tozer, 14.

This Love Libation

I say, “I love you, Lord!” 
And in a minute or two 
I run out of words   
to tell you why. 
But I must try, 
reminding myself of all 
you do for me every day, 
because you love me! 

Millions of people
alive right now
are also your treasure.
And yet you listen
when I ramble,
when I scramble
to beg you to give me
this or that, and
when my mind wanders
you turn my face back
to focus on you,
on what is true:

that you actually died
so that I could be yours!
that you are alive,
and guide me each day!
that you know my failings
and you forgive me 
when I repent and turn around,
that you feed me spiritual food
when I hunger, come what may.

Because you are love itself,
because you never sleep,
never stop counting
the hairs of my head,
always nudge me to notice
what you have prepared
for me to do, for me to say
so that your world
can notice you, feel you,
have one more sorrow healed!

When the Tiepogovogo honey was harvested, a sweet taste test was offered to the congregation. What delight when it was poured into your cup and then into your mouth!  It was going to be sold, to help church projects. This was like a sacrifice to show everyone what a rich blessing was in store. It makes me contemplate the precious love gifts that strengthen relationships, gifts of words and actions that are poured out for each other.

Have you heard of a “libation?” If you were raised listening to the classic English Bible translation, the King James Version, you would have. It is now called a “drink offering,” a liquid that is poured out over a sacrifice for atonement that was to be offered twice a day under the Old Testament law “for a soothing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD” (Exod. 29:41 NET). A lamb was slain and placed on the altar first, along with a grain offering and then the libation: it consecrated the altar as well as speaking devotion to Yahweh.

Once Jesus gave himself as a sacrifice for us to atone for our sins, like that lamb that was sacrificed but with so much more significance, we were ransomed and can enter a new life full of hope:

You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed– not by perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ. (1 Pet. 1:18 NET)

This ultimate once-for-all sacrifice allows us personal access to a new life, cleansed and adopted into the Family of God! Now we are to live out that new status of being consecrated to our Lord (set apart for him). As Paul expressed with passion, this means that we are to make it our all-consuming goal to truly know him:

8 More than that, I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things– indeed, I regard them as dung!– that I may gain Christ, 9 and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness– a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness. 10 My aim is to know him . . . (Phil. 3:8-10a NET)

How can we surrender ourselves to Christ with that kind of whole-hearted trust, believing that it is worth it? How can we personally get to know the God of the Universe who invites us into an intimate relationship? Paul underlines here that it is through a personal self-sacrifice, “the loss of all things”—valuing this relationship with Christ more than anything else. It does not mean that we cannot still love other people; no, we are commanded to love. It does not mean that we must devalue taking care of creation, doing what is right. Instead it requires yearning to please our Lord by doing all that he has asked us to do, and doing it because we love him. This is a part of our “love libation.” Jesus said:

If you love me, you will obey my commandments. (Jn. 14:15 NET)

Another critical element is the one I was trying to accomplish in my own life when I wrote the poem above. When you are in a love relationship with someone, you have conversations with them. You get to know them by sharing life, by noticing what they value and what touches them most. You watch what they do, listen to what they say, how they respond. You notice their reactions and how they show love, then you continue to improve the way you show love in return. I was asking: How could I do this in my relationship with God?  How could I pour out a love offering that was not just ritual words, and that did not cut itself off for lack of interest or a tendency to let distractions cut the conversation?

One way is to notice what he has done for me, for you, what he is doing right now—paying attention to the blessings we receive and the lessons he is teaching. For most of us it is a learning curve to listen to him and what he is saying in response to our questions or assertions or demands. A meaningful conversation is more than just reciting words. It includes sharing one’s heart, both parties in the exchange. How can we hear what God says, and get to know him intimately rather than just as some distant reality?

We have direct access to our Father, who lives in us through Jesus and his Spirit (John 14and 15). There is no directive to go through any other intermediary; we are his and he delights in walking with us, guiding us. He has told us to come straight to him with all that concerns us, trusting his goodness:

Trust in him at all times, you people! Pour out your hearts before him! God is our shelter!  (Ps. 62:8 NET)

Whatever is going on, we can run to him in our hearts and in the prayers we say aloud. He is our safe place, and even when things are tough he is waiting to hear from us and strengthen us:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (Matt. 11:28 NLT)

When we give him what is weighing us down, we show that we know he is there, ready to lift the load. The more that we do it the more we get to know him as we hear his comfort and see him at work. It is a journey, one that requires commitment.

When I married my husband, I thought I knew him really well after three years of getting acquainted and becoming committed to a loving relationship. Now, over 53 years later, I know him so much more deeply and intimately!  We’ve shared joy and sorrow, and innumerable experiences that have shown me who he really is—not just in words but by seeing how he lives life. A true commitment to our Lord shows us who he is. We learn much through reading the Bible, his Word that he left us. Then we begin to experience personally who he is as we walk through each moment with him, learning to listen as he guides us or reminds us of truth.

A verse that launched me on this journey when I was just a child is this one:

Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.  (Jas. 4:8 NET)

He is right there, inviting us. Our part in developing the relationship is to turn to him and spend meaningful time with him, “drawing near.” You cannot get to truly know someone without spending time with them, exchanging meaningful conversations with them,  walking life together with them in increasing intimacy. Our God is love. He is waiting with open arms and his loving, open heart!

May we consistently offer a love libation, pouring out our heart and receiving his loving response!

No Holding Back!

“Sell all that you have 
and give it away!” 
my Lord Jesus said 
to the wealthy inquirer, 
and then, said to me, 
“No more holding back!”

That’s just what he meant 
when he said, “Hand it over,
your life and your soul!
For what I require
is total commitment,
no half-hearted ‘oh . . .’ ”

That’s how I discovered
that his word is truth,
when I put my own self
on his altar of love,
trusting his plan
and his tender heart,

He gave me himself,
living inside me,
slowly unveiling
the shape of his goals,
guiding me forward
on his chosen path.

And I have been free
as never before,
free to respond,
free to explore
the depths of his kindness
his love for the poor,

and even the prideful
one, trying so hard
to make it alone,
to push away Abba
thinking he’s strong,
although he’s so wrong.

“Loose your grip on your life~!”
That’s the next thing he said,
touching my hands.
“Give up control
of your time and your goods;
your life is not your own!”


Every day I give you my all,
trusting your goodness,
stomping on fear,
serving your purpose,
my God, the Good Boss,
without whom we’re lost!


That rich man who only wanted to know how to do enough good to get to heaven was shocked by Jesus’ final words: he not only had to keep all the commandments, but let go of his possessions and his life path:

21 “If you want to be perfect,” Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”  (Matt. 19:21 CSB)

Those of us who are perfectionists really do want to be perfect, but living life the perfect way on the Jesus Road is not something we would choose. We want control of our lives. Like the rich man, that invitation from Jesus to “follow me” includes way too much letting go of control.

One of my hardest learning curves while serving in missions in Côte d’Ivoire was giving up relinquishing my to-do list, my schedule, into my Lord’s hands. I like to be organized, respecting daily space for work, exercise, creativity, and my books. Of course family was a part of all that for many years, with kids taking up evenings as well as most of my days. That was to be expected.

What I had not factored in appropriately was the rich view of community in the culture there. It required receiving visitors whenever they came, offering a drink of water and personal attention. In the U.S. it is rare that neighbors or other friends pop in, several each day, especially in the evenings. We needed to change our expectations and be ready to warmly receive the visitor—and also get out of our nook to go spend time with them.

We knew we needed rest, so we did shut the front door at 8 pm, just opening up for urgent visits. But our receptivity made a huge difference in building relationships. After a while it was groups that honored us with a special visit (lots of sandals at the door!). The practice of warm welcome opened hearts as well as doors!

Here in Detroit I was getting used to a rhythm that kept me productive, scheduling meetings or calls with certain friends. I was in charge of my life again. It is rare here to get unexpected visits. Then the Lord pressed my heart gently and reminded me that my life is not my own. It’s his. And he had his own plans for this season, too, plans for new kinds of fruitfulness that suit his good purposes. He reminded me that in my youth I had repeatedly consecrated my life to him through a hymn that is constantly applicable: Take My Life and Let it Be, by Frances Ridley Havergal (1874):

Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.

Yes, my moments and my days! I had slipped back into clutching control of my time. Not that my Lord is against his people being organized and accomplishing tasks, as well as taking care of themselves! No! But living a life devoted to him requires letting him be in control. When he puts an unexpected responsibility into the works, whether it is a relationship or a service, we have to let go of that part of our planned schedule. So this year I’ve been contemplating that, asking him to show me his plans. He has, and yes, my spiritual peace has been energized and renewed.

That is just one example of what it can mean to do what Jesus said is the ultimate expression of agape love, “to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15.13). He himself laid down his life for us on the cross—he literally gave it up out of love. Most of us are not given that kind of opportunity to “lay down” our lives by dying in place of someone. But he had already shown his love, so many times, to people leading up to his death. Crowds followed him; he paid attention to them and taught them. Suffering people came for healing; he healed them. His disciples were scared stiff, caught in a storm at sea; he calmed the storm and protected them. Parents brought their kids for blessing, which disrupted the normal teaching time; he told those trying to push them away to let them come.  He demonstrated humble service by washing his disciples feet. So many examples!

When we think about giving up control of our lives, we see ourselves in the role of a servant. But Jesus added onto the powerful command to “lay down one’s life” a note that is very touching. He said that rather than “servant,’ he calls someone who lives out that command “friend!”  Why? Because “a servant does not know his master’s business.” (John 15:15). A disciple who listens to this command and is ready to use his life to serve others lovingly, the way his Master directs him, that person does know what their Master is all about. They know his business!

Our God is love. His “business” is to live out this love that wants the best for others, and to share his words with those he puts in our lives, wherever he plants us. When an urgent need shows up on our doorstep or when the phone rings, it is a call to action. And even when a longer-term commitment is required, let’s “lay down” our lives according to his direction—no holding back!

What I Need to Walk this Path


It’s getting dark, there’s no light on the path. 
I stumble and fall. 
I shouldn’t have left my best flashlight 
back there in the hall. 

I look all over for something to eat—
forgot to bring lunch!
My stomach rumbles and grumbles complaint
with nothing to munch.

So now my strength is wilting away,
with no energy stored.
Then I hear the call that I needed so much,
as I strain forward:

“Pull out the Book and take a good look!
My word is bread!
Use it as a lamp and now you can see!
You’re led and fed!”

It may seem simplistic to say that words can feed you. But the Word that comes from our God is truly our spiritual sustenance: it feeds our soul, our inner being. When we ignore it, or take just a small bite once in a while, we are not being fed. We are substituting a little snack bag of chips for the stuffed potato, or totally refusing the platter of a real meal.

God gave us the gift of his Word through his chosen servants: the prophets, the historians, the singers, the messengers, the disciples. And Jesus shared all his Father’s words for the ongoing nourishment of everyone who would enter his family, his Church. Those of us who have translations of these words in our own language are blessed with a banquet!

Jesus pushed back the temptation of Satan by underlining this very truth:

But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” (Matt. 4:4 NET)

Satan had urged him to give in to his body’s hunger; Jesus would have none of it. He knew that greater things were at stake here, and he made a point that  should prompt us to recognize the incredible value of God’s Word to give us nourishment and strength—real life!

When we rely on his instruction and do what it says, the Lord himself takes up residence in us:

“If anyone loves me, he will obey my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and take up residence with him. (Jn. 14:23 NET)

When we believe in Jesus as our one Rescuer and earnestly love him, we are paying attention to him and yearning to know him better and better. If we really do love and respect him, then we will obey his commands. That is when God gladly enters our being and makes his home in us. It is way too easy to take this promise lightly and assume that a simple confession of faith is all that is necessary, that we are then free to follow our own wisdom and assuage our inner appetites with whatever we want.

No! We need to obey his words! How can we do that if we do not know what he commanded? What if we have heard them or skimmed over them but have not stored them in our minds, our hearts? What if we choose to keep them in a “church” storage cabinet in our minds, but not in the center that guides our daily life? If so, they are not living in us, living with us in the way that is necessary for intimate exchange and obedience.

Jesus’ emphasized this so much that his disciple, John, made it a theme of his written documents, to pass it on to us. Here are key verses: that show what happens when his words are not “residing in” us, in intimate connection:

. . . nor do you have his word residing in you, because you do not believe the one whom he sent. (Jn. 5:38 NET)

The person who does not love me does not obey my words. And the word you hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me. (Jn. 14:24 NET)

We can trust the words of Jesus, which came from the Father (John 15:15). They are truth:

Set them apart in the truth; your word is truth. (Jn. 17:17 NET)

And as was written in the psalms, when we digest those words of truth, they empower us to resist breaking God’s commands:

Direct my steps by your word! Do not let any sin dominate me! (Ps. 119:133 NET)

In my heart I store up your words, so I might not sin against you. (Ps. 119:11 NET)

His word is a shield to protect us from harm, from distress brought on by evil. It is also our weapon when we are attacked:

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Eph. 6:17 NET)

Every word of God is purified; he is like a shield for those who take refuge in him. (Prov. 30:5 NET)

And it is light, given us so that we can see the path before us and not stumble and fall, but follow his directives:

Your word is a lamp to walk by, and a light to illumine my path. (Ps. 119:105 NET)

Listen to my cry for help, O LORD! Give me insight by your word! (Ps. 119:169 NET)

This all underlines the importance of storing up God’s words in our hearts. He has given us many ways to do this, and here in the U.S. we have access to his written Word in our language as well as to many churches where his Word is preached. We can store his words firmly through spiritual practices like these:

  • listening carefully to pastors’ messages,
  • taking notes, journaling, in a way that cements them for us,
  • reading the Bible ourselves daily,
  • contemplating what we read, not just doing speed-reading,
  • memorizing key verses and passages that the Lord highlights for us,
  • discussing Scripture with other believers.

When we love his Word, we can even look forward to spending hours with it—even when sleep escapes us:

My eyes anticipate the nighttime hours, so that I can meditate on your word.  (Ps. 119:148 NET)

You can hold onto a verse or passage that you love and let it be your theme in the night!

Perhaps some other approaches have helped you—I invite you to share them with me. We are on a journey here on earth, and our Lord has given us what we need to make it to destination, following his path. We just need to respect and use those tools!

At Home

more and more at home 
he is 
entering with glad assurance 
no longer knocking 
wondering if I will see him as 
interruption 
intrusion 
guest 
who puts me on my toes
my best behavior 
politeness
with an edge of tension
whisking litter out of sight
swabbing the sink
shutting a bedroom door
mess
out of sight
out of mind?


I used to make sure
I paid attention
at the right times
served tea
observed the niceties
we were friends
but hardly intimate
coworkers
but with schedules
daytimers and appointments
lists


he was in
but not all the way


then came pain
and long confusion
followed by bleeding
distress
hurt
and
(open as never before)
I threw myself at him
no more appointments
just whenever
need grabbed my heart
and tears could not be dammed
I needed him
and every time I looked
he was still there
in my home
waiting in the chair
or walking by me
in the hall
or by my bed at night


and I forgot to shut the doors
(he knew anyway)
and I messed up on the tea
so he served me
and starting out the day
we reserved 
time for us
because it's precious
not because we "should"
shut the outer door
sit close and talk
listen
and be held


we are at home
it happened
when I opened up
in desperation
yes
and threw out protocol


and now
the thought of being home
with him
turns on the lamps
and stokes the fire
my heart burns warm
and I run fearlessly
to sit by him
assured of his glad welcome
delight
leaping into his eyes
to have me seek him out
for conversation
or just some quiet
together
where deep unspoken yearnings
move before his eyes
and he
(who knows them all already)
sees
and prays for me
and pours new strength
into my inner being


pain
you were my friend
causing me to throw
caution to the wind
and live where it matters
with my Lifegiver
Lifemate
Lover
trusting him
the two of us at home

What is the difference between just living with someone and being “at home” with them?  It truly requires being “on the same page” with them, sharing purpose and mutual love.

This poem, an acknowledgement of essential transformation in my relationship with my Lord, was written about two decades ago, a time when my spiritual learning curve was taking off in unexpected ways. My homes on earth kept being left behind, exchanged for a moment, due to ministry with its time on mission and then time for rest and reporting to supporters in the U.S. I was learning how to feel “at home” in each temporary spot as well as in the place where we constantly returned, Ferkessédougou (Ferke). My parents were doing the same thing, leaving their home near us in Ferke and building their retirement “Chalet Shalom”  in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, blending their two cultures in a Third-Culture home with reminiscences of Africa and welcoming new blessings (see photo above).

What would it mean to feel always securely at home? I contemplated the truth in Scripture that Jesus wanted to be constantly living in me, not just as a person I knew was my God and Savior, but as a true resident. I began reading the best books I could find on spiritual formation, and was impacted by Christ’s desire to actually be at home in us, his people:

(Eph. 3:17  “And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust

in him.”)

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (Jn. 15:9 ESV)

The word “abide”, also often translated “remain,” has the sense of “residing” in a place, staying there. This is unsurpassed intimacy: Jesus living in you, you living in him. It is more than just shared space, it is complete openness to each other. Jesus, in us through his Spirit, is the teacher, you are the beloved follower/servant/friend being cared for and trained. He already knows everything about you; nothing can be hidden. Instead of that being scary, it is refuge. When you trip up, making a bad choice, you can come to him with regret and true repentance at any time, and he forgives. If you stubbornly refuse to admit that you have thrown dirt into your living space, he will wisely confront you with love until you let him sweep it away. He never makes bad choices or mistakes. You know that you can trust him completely, which brings you closer and closer to him, living with him in peace and love.

Welcome that loving attention! Keep every door open, do everything he tells you to do, accept his strong arms that give hugs and support! Joy that is never taken away from you will fill your inner person, your soul. This is not just “happiness,” dependent on circumstances. This is sustaining, unbreakable intimate connection to the God of love!

Called to Bear Fruit

Since I was small, 
just tasting your Word, 
I’ve longed to be like Joseph,  
whose blessing prophesied 
rampant fruitfulness. 

Let me be a fruitful vine! 
Let my roots drink deep waters 
so my shoots stretch vibrantly 
up and over the walls, 
fruit falling freely. 

I desperately need
your streams of living water
drenched with plant food
to fill me and nourish me
so that I feed others.

This is my calling:
to grow and to blossom, 
see my flowering turn to fruit,
rich clusters full of juice, 
nourishing hungry souls.

Two days ago there was rain where we live, then temperatures suddenly shaking off their late-winter vibes into the warmth of spring. It only took 48 hours for bare branches to spurt out baby green leaves and for lawns to suddenly come alive. Potent warmth and water were what they were yearning for!

We come alive like that when our thirsty hearts receive just what we need for growth:

37 On the last day of the feast, the greatest day, Jesus stood up and shouted out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and 38 let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.'” 39 (Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were going to receive, for the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.) (Jn. 7:37-39 NET)

Those of us who believe, who have been joined to Jesus (remember, he is the vine and we are the branches, cf. John 15), we now have that living water in our inner being. We often call the place where we have invited Jesus to dwell our “heart.” He lives in us through his Spirit, just as he promised:

“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. (Jn. 14:25 NAU)

The Spirit is our counselor who teaches us what Jesus said, and how Jesus wants us to live out his words. It is not enough to just know what he commanded us to do; we must actually put it into practice. When it shows up in how we act, speak and serve, then we become fruitful! We are offering sustenance to others through the empowerment of the Spirit in us by obeying the words that promote that kind of growth.

As Jesus said when explaining the rich meaning of this imagery, that we are like branches attached to the trunk of the vine (which is Jesus), his agape love is the key element, flowing into us and out of us. This is love that shows itself by acting for the welfare of others, kindness that reaches beyond barriers for their good.  Remaining in him, and with him remaining in us, we are in complete union in a house whose essence is love. Over and over he underlined that to be able to live with him, making him our home,  we must keep his words, his commands:

7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  (Jn. 15:1 NIV)

Jesus gave us a rich collection of his words through his disciples, who wrote them down for us. It takes deep meditation to have them rooted in our hearts. We need to process and understand them. Living them out includes struggling to apply all that he said in his “Beatitudes,” and all his parables. This is a high calling that stretches us beyond what is considered “normal” in our culture. Then comes that last command:

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:18-20 NIV)

It is a huge task that takes us out of spaces where we feel comfortable. He makes it possible, wherever we are, by being with us ALWAYS—his Spirit living in us:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 NIV)

So here we are, you and I who are contemplating the richness of all these words, longing to be more fruitful than we can ever be on our own. In union with Jesus through his Spirit, we are graced with a relationship we must cultivate by listening to the Spirit as he nourishes us with living water, by digesting the words and commands our God has left us in Scripture, then by “producing fruit” as we respond to the Spirit’s guidance daily. We are offered the best spiritual companionship ever, one overflowing with that amazing love we do not deserve but that is poured out on us and in us. Drawing our sustenance there, we can learn to do what he has commanded us to do.

What is he putting on your heart these days? Are you hearing his prompts?

My personal experience this year is this: he keeps directing me to certain Scripture passages to memorize, and while doing that I begin to contemplate what those words actually mean and how they are relevant to my life. I should not be surprised that time and time again new situations, ongoing conversations and unexpected challenges come up that direct me back to those verses. He set them before me as a feast, and my cup overflows (Ps. 23:5).

This teaching on immersion in God’s word is just what we need. Even the psalmist knew this and wrote the lengthy Psalm 119 exploring how God’s words teach us, and how they should be applied. These examples come from a heart wanting to live the way Jesus said we must live, in order to be fruitful:

33 Teach me, LORD, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. 35 Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.  (Ps. 119:33-35 NIV)

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Ps. 119:11 NIV)

Yes, that last one has coached me since my parents had me memorize it when I was just a child. When God’s words are planted deeply in our hearts, the Spirit brings them to mind when we face a temptation to stray off the path of God’s commands. Our part is to participate in this mutual effort. We drink in the words, keep them embedded in our inner being, and respond gladly to their teaching—especially when the Spirit underlines them for us.

This is the growth process that the trees and bushes, weary of winter, are demonstrating as they drink in the rain water and the warmth from the heavens. May we bloom enthusiastically too!

Be One

You prayed your heart that last night, 
surrounded by eleven men 
who listened, astonished, and took note. 
And after you left (having suffered and risen) 
John remembered to write it down. 
For me. For us. For more to come.
We need to know what yearning
you expressed for health and harmony:
that we be one.
And it’s the hardest race we’ve ever run.

In fact, most of us have opted out
to run on our own paths, alone.
Some teammates seem so distant.
Others’ tongues keep lashing out
with hurtful words, insinuation,
wounding those who pass too close,
or whip on by, or stumble in the dark.

We’ve lost the goal! We must not run
to claim a prize for personal renown,
we run to honor you.
If we could run together, and
cheer each other on, hold up the weak,
we might break through the night
to see the light of your smile
at the way we run, together, as one.

Holy Week has been a wonderful moment of remembrance , contemplating  Jesus’ sacrifice of himself to open the door to the Kingdom of God for humans, and how death could not hold him. He arose! It never gets older, only deeper. The fantastic news for those of us who enter through the door he opened is that Jesus never leaves us! His Spirit lives in us, guiding us and empowering us!

Oh how we need that constant Presence and counsel if we really respect our King and the personal command he underlined for us just before he was arrested:

“Just as the Father has loved me, I have also loved you; remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete. 12 My commandment is this– to love one another just as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this– that one lays down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.  (Jn. 15:1 NET)

It seems unrealistic to expect that we would lay down our lives for others who are also in the Kingdom. What we see (even right now in the United States) is great division, name-calling, slander. Much of it is caused by potical allegiances. Some of it is caused by a lack of respect for Jesus’ last command to his disciples. We are his disciples too, those who have believe in him!

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one . . . (Jn. 17:20 ESV)

We usually whip right past what traditionally was called “Maundy Thursday,” the day before Good Friday. This year I learned what “Maundy” means: It comes from the same root as “mandate,” and refers to that last command that Jesus gave his disciples, that they must love one another to “remain “in his love. Some translations use the word “abide” instead of “remain,” the idea being to live in his love, to have it as their permanent residence. Isn’t that exactly where we would like to live? His love, shown in the way he gave himself up for us, is constant and alive. It is filled with purpose: the welfare and growth of his people!

So why do we so easily skip over what Jesus underlined as absolutely essential? Often it may be because we find it impossible to love people who are difficult, even hurtful, in our community of Christians. How can we love them? How can we maintain a kind of unity that show that we “one” in Jesus Christ?

Digging into the real meaning of this kind of love can help us understand what Jesus is asking of us. The Greek word used in this context is not philos, but agape. Philos describes the natural emotional affection we have for family and close friends. Agape covers much broader territory and is made clear to us by the love that God has for the world (even those who reject him). The Son of God demonstrated it for us at the cross, giving his life for us. I find this explanation clear:

“The kind of love that we need in order to love people we don’t like is agape love. Now, agape love is not a feeling. We can love with agape love whether the feelings are present or absent, whether they are good or bad, whether this love is reciprocated or not. It is not a feeling.

“Agape love is an action. That’s how it’s always described in scripture. The Bible tells us that we know that God loves us because he sent his Son into the world to redeem us. We know that Jesus loves us because he gave his life for us. The Bible says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man give his life for a friend.” And God says that he will know that we love him if we keep his commandments.”[1]

This means that even if we find a person difficult, and would not say that we like them, we must show love in action, caring for their welfare. We must pray earnestly for them, and ask that our own reactions would be honoring to our Lord. It may take some “pruning” (John !5:2); we need to be aware of our own failure to show love and let the Lord remove that “dead branch” from us, so that we can be fruitful.

Paul gave lots of information about how to live out agape in his letters to the churches. This is one succinct example:

8 But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices 10 and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. 11 Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all. 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others. 14 And to all these virtues add love, which is the perfect bond. 15 Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body to this peace), and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  (Col. 3:8-17 NET)

Verse 11 gives a warning against any divisions based on ethnicity or social status. We are all chosen by God to be his people and must do everything for him (v. 17), so our actions and words must be exactly what he wants us to do. He is right here with us. He knows what’s going on. If we have been digesting his word, letting it actually live in us, it is his words that we must graciously use to encourage one another. Yes:

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Eph. 4:14-15 NIV)

Once again, love in our way of speaking is key! It results in a healthy, mature body: the community of Christ’s people.

Verses 12 and 13 list the key character qualities we must be working hard at developing with the Spirit’s help: mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.  We are to wear these qualities as our clothing—that is what others see us as. They are rooted in our hearts and flow out in our visible actions.

And of course there is a requirement to forgive others. Love is that antidote! We truly need the Spirit!

Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am Yahweh. (Lev. 19:18 CSB)

We truly need the Spirit’s empowerment!

[1]  Mary (Whelchel) Lowman, The Christian Working Woman, https://christianworkingwoman.org/broadcast/how-to-love-the-people-you-dont-liker/

Made to Bear Fruit

Chosen:
      before you spoke
            the world, the sky, humanity
                    into being
Rescued:
      from my rotting self
            and destiny of darkness, loss,
                  eternal death
Gifted: 
     to do my special part
          in this Body, your Family,
                  for your purposes
Sent:
       to bring the news
             about the Rescuer to others
                   still hopeless
Planted:
      just where you want me
           rooted in your love and kindness
               to bear good fruit

My mind is blown away when I contemplate the grace that has brought me to this place in my life journey. It was no surprise to God; he had me in mind, “chosen,” before he created the world. He knew what choices I would make, especially the one that would attach me to Jesus Christ! He knows every part of his plan for you, too.

This mystery of “my choice” and “God’s choice” is confusing. Lately in several conversations I have brought up the way my own father, Dwight M. Slater, explained it: “You decide to enter the one Door to salvation, placing your faith in Jesus. There is a sign on the Door that says: ‘Whosoever will, to the Lord may come!’ When you’ve passed through, you shut the door and find that there is another sign on that side of it, ‘Welcome! You were chosen before the foundation of the world!’ “ These “signs” are, of course, based on Scripture verses that state these truths (Romans 10:13; Ephesians 1:4). Yes, God gave us free will, and when he calls us to himself we have a choice to make. He knew whether or not we would choose him; in fact, he had a life plan set in place for us once we were following him. We have both free will and are predestined, whether we understand that or not.

I find it comforting to dwell on this truth and what I mean to him, that he would pay attention to me, so minute in the masses of his people, and even make me into who he wants me to be for his purposes. You are known, too!

13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!  (Ps. 139:13-17 ESV)

Jesus made this explicit when he talked with his disciples in those last hours before his arrest. He had chosen them and had a task for them: to bear fruit that would last, a genuine kind of produce that does not spoil. A good question comes up here: did he mean this just for his eleven faithful disciples, or also for those of us who would come after them? The answer is in his wonderful prayer that is recorded in John 17. It comes after he acknowledges that he has completed the task the Father had given him, to teach his disciples the messages from the Father (17:6-8). Now he was sending them out to share these words of truth, and his prayer was both for the disciples and for those would believe in Jesus because they would accept God’s words because of the disciples’ ministry of passing them on. He prayed:

17 Set them apart in the truth; your word is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. 19 And I set myself apart on their behalf, so that they too may be truly set apart. 20 “I am not praying only on their behalf, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their testimony, 21 that they will all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me. (Jn. 17:1 NET)

Yes, we believe because their writings have shared the truth with us! Jesus prepared the way for us to be one with him and the Father, and one with each other. It is indeed a high and wonderful calling. When we live it out, we also bear lasting fruit. Some say that this “fruit” is righteous living. Others say it is bringing new believers into the Kingdom—preaching the Good News. It is, rather, the complete impact of the life of someone who is truly attached to the Vine, Jesus. As Colin G. Kruse says::

“The context, which stresses that fruit is produced as the disciples maintain their fellowship with Jesus by keeping his word and when Jesus continues to fellowship with them by the Spirit, suggests that fruit refers to the entire life and ministry of those who follow Jesus’ teaching and experience his presence in their lives through the Spirit.”[1]

So where has the Lord planted you? How is your life reflecting his love? That is actually the key, primary ingredient: love. Jesus underlined it multiple times in his last words with his disciples. When he made it clear that they had been chosen by him and prepared for ministry, he emphasized the importance of their reliance on him through prayer and through love for one another:

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that remains, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. 17 This I command you– to love one another. (Jn. 15:16,17 NET)

To have that essential love for one another, agape love that cares about the well-being of another person, is his command. When we live it out, we bear the fruit that he has in mind. And as we grow closer and closer to God, knowing him and his character, his love will increasingly fill us. This is how Jesus put it in his prayer:

6 I made known your name to them, and I will continue to make it known, so that the love you have loved me with may be in them, and I may be in them.” (Jn. 17:1 NET)

May it be so! Let’s live it out!

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! 3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. 4 For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love. 5 He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will– 6 to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son.  (Eph. 1:2-6 NET)

[1] Colin G. Kruse, John: An Introduction and Commentary, ed. Eckhard J. Schnabel, Second edition, vol. 4, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (London: Inter-Varsity Press, 2017), 369.

For the Joy Set Before Him

He knew where he was going 
when he rode into the City of Peace 
that received him with such welcome: 
shouts of joy based on false expectations,
praise that would dissolve to bitterness
when his peace was not what they’d hoped for.

He knew that they would turn on him,
following their leaders, men jealous
of his power and rising fame.
He was sent for this intense rejection.
He’d known the end from the beginning. 
So he continued to push forward

toward condemnation, torture, death,
toward an excruciating pain
far worse than physical agony:
He was going to have the evil wrongs
done by the humans that he loved
thrown on him. Enormous weight!

But he kept on going toward the cross.
He was aware of all the chaos
but his eyes were firmly fixed
on higher things, the ultimate goal:
Joy! At last death would be conquered,
true rescue would be paid for, offered!

The raw insults and contempt
were the dark valley he must cross
to end up hung on a cruel cross.
He would obey commands laid out
in his own Word long ago, prophecies: 
what must be done to bring eternal joy.

A new covenant was necessary,
it must be signed in blood!
But no! Not animal blood this time!
His own blood would seal forever
the Promise, the Way to belong to God
and freely enter his Kingdom of love!

Eyes on the throne where Yahweh rules,
knowing it would be his forever,
knowing he would then bring life
to millions who would turn to him,
his eyes saw love and joy completed,
God’s great plan fulfilled at last!

Yes, Jesus knew what was awaiting him in Jerusalem. But he went there anyway. He had already told his disciples all that was going to happen to him there (Matt 17:22-23, Luke 9:22; 18:31-33). At their final meal together he explained that what was going to happen to him would involve his blood being shed, and it would not be for nothing. No! He was going to arrange for a new world order, the kingdom of God, with citizens who would belong exclusively to him and would live according to his purposes in this world. It would initiate a legal document, an eternal alliance between God and humanity:

In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.  (Lk. 22:20 NIV)

A new covenant? Why was it necessary? Because his former covenants with people had all been broken (Jer 11.10; Hos 6:7; 8:1). A covenant is a formal legal document with promises and laws that must be kept; it also includes consequences for not respecting them, so when the covenant people turned completely aside the covenant was broken.

Genesis 15-17 gives a detailed account of the way Yahweh made a covenant with Abram that had lasting effect, and it was done by splitting animal bodies in two, setting them opposite each other. Abram had to protect them from vultures, but as darkness fell he also fell asleep. And then “a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the animals.” (Gen 15:17), after which God made the details of the covenant clear to Abram (whose name was changed to Abraham).

Think about the blood and gore  lying there by Abram, and then his astonishment when God spoke with him and made incredible promises. The symbols for God, extreme heat and light, passed between those bloody carcasses. The covenant was sealed.

Jesus was the sacrifice that brought in the new covenant; his very own holy blood, with no sin, was pouring from his hands and feet on the cross. It was the eternal seal of the everlasting covenant between God and humanity.

If we accept the terms of the covenant, which include faith in Jesus as Messiah and Savior and the only Way to God, then we enter into his Kingdom. It is a Kingdom of total justice and goodness, with commands that its citizens must obey. We need to know what they are and obey them!  This is promised: as covenant followers we will enter into the experience of his supreme joy.

If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. (Jn. 15:10-11 NIV)

Jesus obeyed the divine command to lay down his life for us, for all who would believe in him and become his own people. His blood sealed the covenant, with its commands. If we believe in his sacrifice and give ourselves completely to him, we must be obedient—and this brings joy, because we are walking with him daily, experiencing his love, and also realizing that we have entered eternal joy that is waiting for us after this earthly life. If our heart-eyes are looking ahead with confidence, then we have that joyful hope that is not “I hope so” but “I know it’s true!”  It is faith. There is true joy that is fully complete up ahead beyond this world’s darkness,  and as we run toward that goal our Savior’s love lives in us and instills current joy. Thank you, Jesus!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 15:13 NIV)

We must keep our eyes fixed on him, not on the dark world around us. The joy of the Lord strengthens us and gives us solid, confident hope! As the writer to the Hebrews pointed out, many of God’s people have shown us how to live out our faith (see Hebrews 11), and now it’s our turn. How can we make it to our finish line?  Eyes fixed on Jesus:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:1,2 NIV)

Craving Joy


When sorrow sits heavy on my soul 
I want to remember to go deep, 
stretch down to my foundations, 
touch the joy that lies there, 
waiting, holding on. 

It’s easy to forget, to wallow in the mud 
that seems pervasive, heavy, dark. 
But my Mentor has been nourishing 
my roots, plunging them yet further
into the source of Life.

It springs up constantly out of his stores.
I want each tendril to wake up,
draw in that precious energy
of Truth that never changes,
send Joy zinging

into each fingertip, into my eyes
so that I see things differently,
colored by his radiant love.
My heart will beat his rhythms
within the sorrow.

This month I’ve been studying Lamentations, preparing it for translation into Nyarafolo (Côte d’Ivoire). It is striking the way the writer elaborates in great detail the suffering his nation has gone through because of their sin, yet turns the central chapter around to focus on hope. It is not “I-hope-so” hope, but assurance that in spite of all the horrors God is faithful, and he will bring back joy.

This has kept me contemplating chaos and ongoing suffering, whether worldwide, national or personal. Grief is real. Sorrow is deep sadness. It is not realistic or healthy to say: “Just get over it! Everything will be all right!” But the Bible does say:

 One may experience sorrow during the night, but joy arrives in the morning. (Ps. 30:5 NET)

That gives us something to look forward to and changes how we view the future. During the suffering, though, does joy just vanish? Paul gives his own testimony about this, starting with a long list of all the horrible things that have happened and are happening to him, inserting near the end that although he is sorrowful, he is “always rejoicing”! (2 Cor. 6:10 NIV)

Was he just an extraordinary Christian, or is this joy in the middle of sorrow something we Jesus-followers can truly experience?

Many pastors and scholars have delved into this. What I’ve learned is that our understanding of the implications of the word “joy” has grown shallow. We tend to use the words “happiness” and “joy” interchangeably in English. Both are important to our lives, but what I find helpful is a differentiation made meaningful by the Healing Springs Wellness  Center:

“When we experience happiness, our brains activate reward centers and release dopamine—the same neurotransmitter involved in addictive behaviors. This creates a cycle where we constantly seek the next ‘happiness hit’ to maintain those positive feelings.

“Joy activates different brain regions entirely. It stimulates areas associated with: meaning-making and purpose; spiritual and transcendent experiences; long-term wellbeing and contentment; emotional regulation and resilience.”[1]

Joy is therefore “a more stable and sustainable emotion than happiness.”[2]

So happiness is a good thing, it just can’t produce the healthy ongoing stability that comes from joy. The Bible is clear that joy is produced in us by the Spirit’s work (Gal. 5:22)—it is not just man-made. We can hold onto this joy, knowing that God will also use our suffering for his good purposes, so that we become increasingly mature in our inner person:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. (Jas. 1:2,3 NIV)

Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance, character, and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Rom. 5:3-5 NET)

When we are going through hard times (physical, emotional, social, whatever!) the darkness feels like it takes over. We cannot just shrug it off and claim that we’re fine, or give that advice to someone else. But we can remember that our loving God is at work in us and that his promise is also eternal life with him.

If we remember that we have a solid assurance of ongoing and everlasting joy, we can cling to that. Since that is not just a passing emotion but truth, put in place by God himself—the Spirit who lives in us—we can draw life-water from it to assuage our thirst even in the middle of a desert. It refreshes us even in the middle of sorrow when we dig deep into that source in our souls. So interacting with the statement in Psalm 30.5 that says “joy comes in the morning,”  John Piper puts it this way:

” . . .it is just as true that my night of weeping would give way, in due time, to a tearless joy. That’s what I think the psalmist means when he says that joy follows sorrow. There are waves of sorrow and pain and loss that break, big waves that break, over the unshakable rock of Christian joy, and these waves submerge the laughter in the surging. You can feel it: the surging surf of weeping that wells up unbidden from your heart. But they don’t dislodge the rock, and the waves recede in due time, and the rock glistens again in tearless sunlight.”[3]

That “rock” of Christian joy is based on assurance that we are never alone, that God’s love is filling us and holding us through the storm, and that eternal joy is ahead. That is our solid rock. In my poem, I compared that joy to the springs of living water that nourish us all the time. We keep growing and producing fruit that includes endurance and joy when we stay rooted in the our sustaining assurance that God is sovereign and intimately involved with us. I remind myself to drink it in, even when I feel overwhelmed.

Jesus himself said that if we are walking with him, doing what he says, we will have this joy:

If you obey my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete. (Jn. 15:10-11 NET)

Cling to the joy!

[1] https://healingspringswellness.com/joy-vs-happiness-mental-health/

[2] Ibid., Dr. Antonio Damasio

[3] https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/does-joy-come-after-suffering-or-in-it