Saturday, January 5, 2013

Exceeding Joy

"But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear,
 pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
 And to present you faultless
before the presence of His
 glory with exceeding joy,
 To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
 Dominion and power,
 Both now and forever. 
 Amen."

Jude 20-25


 I ran across this verse this morning.    I read it.   Reread it.   Then read it again.

The walk of the Christian life, crystalized.

 All of the sweetness, power, hopefulness, fellowship,  responsibility, purity,
and love squeezed into one wonderfully encouraging, sobering bite.

"TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO PRESENT YOU FAULTLESS BEFORE THE PRESENCE OF HIS GLORY WITH EXCEEDING JOY"
 
I can't even describle how that makes me feel to read those words, except to say that it might be like tasting medicine that goes down so sweetly and immediately takes effect. Like an antidote to all of the diseases in this world.
 
With God our Savior on our side,
what else could we feel but
  EXCEEDING JOY ?!