One of the points made from Philippians 4:1-7 in the sermon was:
Rejoice: filling with joy even in the midst of pain
My scribbles led to reflecting on what I've learned through counting. Counting gifts.
To be filled with real joy, we must empty of self.
Our spiritual journey is all about leaking self to fill with Christ.
The more self spills, the more Jesus fills.
As He fills, joy increases.
He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30 NKJV)
Christ was and is our example of how this works.
Christ leaked out ALL of himself, to take on ALL of our sin.
The wages of sin? Sacrificial death. Jesus, our selfless, sacrificial Lamb.
Hands and feet pierced with spikes, wearing a thorn of crowns mocking His kingly status, hanging in shame on a cross marked with our deserved suffering, our deserved pain.
All for a Love beyond compare.
Bearing our sin burden, His blood spilled, emptied out to fill us up.
Spear thrust into His side.
Water spilling out after death.
Self leaks through suffering.
Life-giving water flows into deserted places.
In emptying self, joy fills.
...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 NKJV)
Jesus knew His suffering would only be for a little while, therefore, He endured. Our suffering is only for a little while, therefore, we can endure! For the joy set before us is salvation complete - forever in the painless, tearless, sinless, glorious presence of our Lord and King!
My Pleasure,
Melanie
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