Home with Joy and for Rest and Replenishment

Being out there in the world is hard. It is challenging and tiring and frankly a battle at every turn. We are going to expend ourselves fully in pursuit. We are to be pursuing the Father. We are to be out there doing the work that He has for us in this world. We are to give all that we have in the pursuit of doing His work.

“⁴Restore our fortunes, O LORD,

like streams in the Negeb!

⁵Those who sow in tears

shall reap with shouts of joy!

⁶He who goes out weeping,

bearing the seed for sowing,

shall come home with shouts of joy,

bringing his sheaves with him.”

— Psalm 126:4-6 (ESV)

And what after we have expended all that we are to sow the seeds of the LORD, we come home with joy in our hearts for the work is worth it. We will come home rejoicing at the work and with us we bring the satisfaction of knowing that we have sown the seeds of the LORD where He would have us sow. We come home with joy in our hearts even as we are weary from the work, knowing that the LORD will restore us fully so that we are able to go out the next day and do the same.

“⁷Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ⁸For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:7-9 (ESV)

It is in the sowing for the LORD that we find joy. We are rewarded with and thanks to that which we sow. If we are out there for ourselves, we will reap yes, but the reward will require more work, without rest or joy. But, when we are out there for the LORD, we have His Word to provide rest and replenishment. We find joy in the work and that joy leads to rest so that we can again make our way out for more work the next day.

Yes, we are to be out there doing the work of the LORD and yes, we will get tired from the work. When we return home after the long day of doing the work for the LORD we will find joy in the work and rest in the Word. When we return home we are to rejoice in the work we accomplished and then get back in the Word of the LORD to find rest and replenishment for the next day’s work for Him.

Our home is not just a place for us to anchor, but a place to find joy. We come home, whether our personal home or church home with joy in our heart and seeking rest and replenishment to go out and continue the work of the LORD and returning home again with joy and seeking rest and replenishment to go out and continue the work of the LORD again.

What are you finding at home? Are you finding more of the same, work to keep up? What if you were to do the work of the LORD in the world and come home with joy in your heart and seeking rest and replenishment from the Word to go out again the following day?

Worshiping God

This morning I was hit hard by the questions in my MasterWork study that surround worshiping God. Where I am in full agreement with and look forward to what worshiping God will look like when I arrive in the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem, I have been challenged with how I am worshiping Him now in this world.

The book of Revelation clearly points to what life will be like when we arrive and spend eternity in the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem. It will be majestic and there will be singing and rejoicing and feasts and fellowship and all sorts of engagement as we worship the LORD and He dwells with us.

Where I was hit hard this morning was not in learning something new in the study or text from Revelation. I was struck by the simple question of how can I do that even now.

This was a gut punch to me. Not that I do not worship the LORD and spend time with Him, but what about the rest of the time in this world. Am I rejoicing always, praying continually, and giving thanks in all things. I am not so sure that I am.

I admit to getting caught up in the ways of the world and focusing on those things that are impacting me now, or at least that is what I am telling myself. I have my attention on work, finances, preparing for retirement, stability, and a whole litany of things that are of this world. Where they are things of concern in this world, I have to remember that the LORD will provide for all of them and that I should not worry about tomorrow as tomorrow will take care of itself.

“³⁴Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” – Matthew 6:34 (ESV)

“³³But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

My focus should not be on tomorrow, but on today and the filling of it with worship of the LORD. I am to be seeking His face each day all day. I am to be rejoicing always, praying continually, and giving thanks in all thing. I have to bring my expectation of worship in the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem into this world and my all time here.

“¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)

So, yes, we will be in constant worship of the LORD when we are in the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem. In all that we do we will worship and celebrate the LORD and His life giving and sustaining grace and glory. I have to bring that into today and not just reserve it for later. I am to do as Paul indicates in 1 Thessalonians, rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all things. My relationship with the LORD is now and not just reserved for the eternal kingdom.

What is your view of worshiping God? Are you reserving the continual worship for the eternal kingdom? What if you were to follow the direction of Paul and even now rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all things?

Rejoice in Fulfilled Desire

We are, as I have read, learned, and remembered during my study of the word “desire”, to desire the LORD and if there is something other than Him, it should be wisdom. Our fascination with things of this world is not sustainable as it will be gained and lost in the blink of an eye. The desire of the LORD and of wisdom are forever. The LORD has been and will be forever. Wisdom is gained and allows for continued growth and understanding.

“¹⁹A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,

but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.”

— Proverbs 13:19 (ESV)

Here we find the direction as to the fulfillment of desire. We are to relish in the fulfillment as it is “sweet to the soul”. So, taking in that we are to desire the LORD and wisdom, what a great thing to know that the LORD and wisdom are “sweet to the soul”. And it is true.

The LORD loves, cares for, guides, and protects us. He provides for our every need and even blesses us beyond those needs. He is the one constant that can be counted on in this world. He is there always and will not turn away.

Likewise with wisdom. With wisdom we can see and adjust to that which is presented. Knowing that what is can be changed with a little understanding is so amazing.

Bryson, my oldest son, commented to me a while back that I was the smartest person he knew. Now, I know that there are many people who are smarter than I am and Bryson likely knows those people as well. But, for him to recognize that I have something inside me, wisdom, is certainly fantastic in my eyes.

Here we have desire that is or will be fulfilled, the LORD and wisdom. I have received the LORD through my acceptance of the salvation gift He offered. I have experience in this world that leads to wisdom and understanding. For each of these I rejoice as they are “sweet to the soul”. I have and will continue to gain from these desires being fulfilled and will continue seeking them as I go.

What desire do you have? Are you aware of the impact of the fulfillment of those desires? What is the difference in the long term gain from those desires compared to the fulfillment of the desire for the LORD and wisdom, and are they worth your rejoicing?