True blessedness

 

The path to real Joy

Oh what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!

Yes, what joy for those  whose record the LORD has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long. Day and night God’s hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.

Finally I confessed all my sins and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself  “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD” – and He forgave me! All my guilt is gone

Psalm 32

Good news

 

The Gospel – good news

What we want and what God knows we need are quite different.

We live in time, very  much controlled by our sensory feelings. Most  times, we want pleasure , possessions and safety.

God lives in eternity. He understands the causes of evil and chooses to be kind and gracious in the greater reality of relationships that are eternal.

God being eternal, wants to reconnect His creatures with Himself in a harmonious and fruitful relationship – as children with a Father, in the Father's house where holy joy produces songs of praise.

 

Why then a message about a once dead Jesus Christ? Because God restores relationships with justice and love.

Justice  -  'Jesus Christ died, the just one for the unjust ones to bring us to God ' (1 Peter 3) We are the unjust ones by habit and inclination.

Love   -   Jesus Christ died as the ultimate expression of His great love for us  ( Romans 5:8) ' God showed His great love in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us'

Thus the devastating history of  crucified Jesus, has become good news  of hope, forgiveness, love, peace, joy and eternal life. This is assured by the fact that Jesus rose from death and lives forever more.

johnmckee@internode.on.net