Want To Be Strong?

Nehemiah 8:10: Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

The joy of the Lord is like a spiritual vitamin. The joy of the Lord is different from and superior to human joy or happiness. The joy of the Lord is a precious commodity. The Lord is the source of it. He only provides it to His children. A joyless Christian is weak. The joy of the Lord is part of the kingdom of God. As such it is something that cannot be seen by unbelievers.

John 3:3: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Since unbelievers cannot see it for themselves many of them do not believe it exists. They do not believe that believers have joy that is superior to the fleeting happiness that they themselves have. Convincing themselves that believers do not have something better convinces them that they don*t need the Lord.

John 16:22: And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

The joy of the Lord is the Christian*s possession forever. The peace of God that He gives to His own is also different from any peace unbelievers experience.

John 14:27: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Colossians 3:15: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Philippians 4:7: And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The peace of God is a preservative. God*s joy strengthens believers and His peace preserves their hearts and minds. Another bonus is that the sorrow of believers is not as deep or long-lasting as that of unbelievers. There are so many fringe-benefits to being a Christian that they cannot be counted.

1 Thessalonians 4:13: But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

What the unconverted have does not deserve to be called joy or peace. It is sometimes obvious even to them that what they have comes and goes.

Proverbs 14:13: Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

Revelation 3:17: Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Unbelievers are unscientific. A true scientist will test every possibility. Unbelievers reject the testimony of believers without personally testing it. They even reject Christ without personally tasting Him.

Psalms 34:8: O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

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