DN Rejoicing In Your Inheritance 7/27/2007
- From: Peter G. Chase <pchase@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:02:19 -0400
DRAWING NEAR
July 27
Rejoicing In Your Inheritance
"In this you greatly rejoice" (1 Pet. 1:6).
Contemplating your eternal inheritance should give you joy that
transcends any temporal circumstance.
Joy is a major theme in Scripture. The psalmist said, "Sing for joy
in the Lord, O you righteous ones; praise is becoming to the upright"
(Ps. 33:1); "My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to Thee;
and my soul, which Thou hast redeemed" (Ps. 71:23).
Even creation itself is said to rejoice in the Lord: "Thou dost make
the dawn and the sunset shout for joy. . . . Let the heavens be glad,
and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all it contains; let
the field exalt, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the
forest will sing for joy before the Lord. . . . Let the mountains
sing together for joy before the Lord; for He is coming to judge the
earth" (Ps. 65:8; 96:11-13; 98:8-9).
Joy is the special privilege of every believer, regardless of his or
her circumstances. You might suffer untold heartache and persecution
for your faith in Christ, but amid the severest trials, God wants you
to know profound joy. That's why Peter said, "To the degree that you
share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at
the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation" (1 Pet.
4:13).
First Peter 1:6-9 identifies five elements of your Christian life
that should bring you joy amid trials. The first is your protected
inheritance. That's what Peter referred to when he said, "In this you
greatly rejoice" (v. 6, emphasis added). Other elements include a
proven faith, a promised honor, a personal fellowship, and a present
deliverance (vv. 6-9), which we will explore in coming days.
The Greek word translated "greatly rejoice" in 1 Peter 1:6 is not the
usual Greek word for "rejoice." Peter used a more expressive and
intense word, which speaks of one who is happy in a profound
spiritual sense rather than a temporal or circumstantial sense.
That's the quality of joy God grants to those who trust in Him and
look beyond their temporal trials to the glory of their eternal
inheritance. Let that be your focus as well.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Thank God for the joy that transcends circumstances.
For Further Study:
Read John 16:16-22.
According to Jesus, why would the disciples lament? What would
bring them joy? What does their experience teach you about the
basis for your joy as a Christian?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
1 Peter 1:6-9
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if
need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than
gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to
praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet
believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 receiving the end of your faith; the salvation of your souls.
John 16:16-22
16 "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little
while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."
17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, "What is this
that He says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and
again a little while, and you will see Me'; and, 'because I go to the
Father'?"
18 They said therefore, "What is this that He says, 'A little
while'? We do not know what He is saying."
19 Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them,
"Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, 'A little
while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you
will see Me'?
20 "Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but
the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow
will be turned into joy.
21 "A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has
come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer
remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into
the world.
22 "Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your
heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@xxxxxxx
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase@xxxxxxxxxx
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
http://www.gty.org/Gospel
http://www.gty.org/
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There is a living God. He has spoken in His word. He means just what he says, and will do all that He has promised. - Hudson Taylor
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