I vividly remember my days at a Christian college. The women’s advisor took a measuring stick to ensure our skirts were the required length. Any offender was given demerits. The experience did not enhance my spiritual growth and certainly did not expand my joy. It was humiliating. I did not draw closer to God. I found myself distancing myself from the teachers who should have delivered light for my walk with God.
LEGALISM DOES NOT GENERATE JOY
As recorded in Mark 1:21-45, the crowds listened in spiritual darkness as the scribes expounded their dry and bleak messages in the synagogue. The scribes functioned as scholars of the Mosaic Law and conjectured their authority by quoting generations of rabbis and ancient traditions. Their teachings focused on the non-essentials of the hundreds of rules they imposed on their people. Legalism does not generate joy.
WORDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD
Picture the contrast in Jesus’ message in the synagogue. The audience was “completely amazed at His teaching, because He was teaching them as one having [God-given] authority, and not as the scribes.” Jesus was the mouth of God because He was the Word. It is written “In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself” (John 1:1-5). Previously, worship in the synagogue was a joyless repetition of rules. Now with Jesus, “In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men.” Life, light, and joy exploded in the synagogue that day.
CHOOSING JOY IN THE DARKNESS
Last Friday night, my husband Bill was in the ER, gasping for air. For three hours, I saw the terror in his eyes as he felt like he was suffocating. The pain was excruciating, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Where was God? Where was His light? Could we believe Jesus is Who He says He is? We chose to trust that He would take care of us, regardless of our circumstances and the terror we felt. Bill and I believe the Word of God. We choose joy in the midst of darkness.
The people in the synagogue knew there was something unique in Jesus’ words. He spoke with God’s authority. They had to choose either to trust or reject the words of Jesus. Are His words the sole trustworthy light for your path?
FINDING VICTORY
During our memorable Friday in the ER, a friend of mine reached out to me with the words of Romans 8:35-39: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we encounter death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
These are the words of joy, of assurance, and direct promises of God. Believing and trusting them expands my spiritual growth. Joy abounds. Do you want to draw closer to God? Then let yourself be amazed. Believe the words of Jesus as your sole standard for life, no matter the darkness you encounter. His words from the mouth of God bring joy.
