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

In your Christian walk, do you sometimes feel that something is lacking? You examine your heart for hidden sins and find your conscience clear, yet you still lack joy. How could that be?

A well-known acronym for the word “joy” is J-esus, O-thers, Y-ou, which means that joy can only come when we put God and His kingdom first in our lives. The world, the flesh and the devil deceive us that joy can be found in indulging ourselves in sinful pleasures. But… Jesus commands us to deny ourselves, pick up our crosses and follow Him (Mark 8:34).

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙧𝙙’𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙃𝙞𝙢, “to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).” The salvation of mankind is God’s love-filledagenda, and we have been tremendously graced by Him to know His love. How can we not lay aside our selfish agendas for the Lord’s mission? Let us do our part in God’s harvest field and spread His kingdom by sharing the Gospel and shining our light to everyone around us. 𝙈𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙧𝙙’𝙨 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙙𝙤𝙢 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙗𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙖 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙙𝙤.

𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:
1. Is God’s agenda foremost in my life? Does it govern my every decision and choice?
2. How can I spread the Gospel in big and small ways?

𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿:
“SOVEREIGN GOD, Thy cause, not my own, engages my heart… Glorify Thyself and I shall rejoice, for to bring honour to Thy name is my sole desire. O that all men might love and praise Thee, that Thou mightest have all glory…! Let sinners be brought to Thee for Thy dear name! Lord, use me as Thou wilt, do with me what Thou wilt… It is Thy cause and kingdom I long for, not my own.” Amen.

(Excerpt from God’s Cause, The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions.)