Dear faith family,
It’s raining in Boise today.
It reminds me of many class periods spent pouring over verb tenses in language class. For some reason, the conditional clauses were taught meteorologically:
“If it rains, then the sidewalk will be wet.”
Always with the wet sidewalk! After the 100th time, I was really hoping for a new illustration for these conditional clauses and verb tenses. Only when a prof was feeling especially spirited, he would throw in “snow,” but that didn’t work, so he quickly melted into rain again.
I’m not complaining, but looking at the wet sidewalk today, I had a flashback to my school days.
The profs were right, of course. It’s a classic “if . . . then” clause. If the first part is true, the second part will be true. It’s like “word-math.” Part one is correct? Then we know part two is also correct.
I came across one in my reading this morning from Psalm 126. Verse 3 teaches us:
“The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”
Part one is true. God has done great things for us. The previous verse states this as a fact for others. This verse makes it personal. The LORD has done great things for us—each of us could make it more personal yet—The LORD has done great things for me.
God has given you life, his creative power echoing thousands of years after the first people were called out and carved out of dust and rib.
God has given you the knowledge of good and evil. You didn’t eat the fruit, but in effect, you did. Romans tells us through that sin, all sinned. Death which comes to all is proof of this fact. You were given the knowledge of the good that has now been lost, and the evil raging around. You have been given an understanding of how things have gone horribly wrong. But this comes with a purpose.
God has given you his Son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus, you have living, dying, and living proof of God’s love for you. The sinful condition in which you were born is the reason Jesus came. The punishment you had deserved was endured already by Jesus. The multi-layered death you had the right to expect has been suffered by your Savior. Your sin is gone.
God has given you proof, hope, and a future through the restored life of Jesus Christ. Christ’s bodily resurrection assures you that your sin has been forgiven, your guilt atoned for. Christ’s resurrection assures you that you will rise to life eternal. Whoever lives and believes in Jesus will never die.
The LORD has done great things for you.
So, how is your sidewalk? If the first part of the phrase is true, we have every reason to expect the latter.
Would you describe yourself as “filled with joy?” Sure, there are daily frustrations. Yes, you have stuff to do. But how honest are you with yourself about the deep-seeded happiness described in this verse?
Our joy deepens when we direct our meditative thoughts and eyes back to the great things the LORD has done for us. If we want the sidewalk wetter, it will have to rain harder. If we want more joy in our lives, we need to open ourselves up more to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit through the Gospel. Faith lives shrivel when the source gets cut off. Faith lives thrive when the Living Water runs full and deep into the soul.
Blessings as you consider this verse from Psalm 126, and give thought to your sidewalk.
Prayer idea: Pray for someone you know in need of a deeper sense of joy in life. Pray for guidance and help in deepening the connection you have to your Savior. Pray for God to support and bless those brothers and sisters in the faith who have a medical side to the issue of joy in life—ask God to be with them and bless them in special ways.
Blessings on your week!
Pastor Dan