This week I have been reading Hebrews 12:18-29 which describes two ways we can react to ridicule and persecution. Practically speaking, it is a guide of how we should face any difficult situation in life, no matter what those difficulties may be.
In the passage, the author provides two distinct and radically different avenues of how we can react when we approach difficult times – fear, or joy.
Listen and reflect upon what Hebrews 12:18 says, You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire, to darkness, gloom and storm.
One approach would be to face difficult situations in life with darkness, gloom, and fear.
Personally, I am facing some difficult health issues. My first reaction of hearing the doctor’s report appeared to me as “gloom and fear”. Fear is a natural human emotion that we all face and must face during difficult times. But when fear grips us so tight that we can’t claim joy in difficult times, then the enemy, Satan, has won the victory.
Now listen and reflect upon an alternate approach. Hebrews 12:22 states, But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly.
That brings us to the alternate approach when facing uncertainties in life – joy! I heard many years ago someone defining JOY this way: J stands for Jesus – first in life, O stands for Others – second in life, and Y stands for Yourself – third in life.
So, as I walk through my health issues, I am reaching out to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is both the ultimate and intimate God, claiming “JOY”.
Practically speaking, pray with me that as I go through these health issues, that Jesus will reign first in my life, the ethnic language pastors and church planters will be second in my life, and myself third in life.