Peace in Christ

John 16:33

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

• What is your expectation for peace in the world?
• While spoken to the apostles, do you think this is restricted to the apostles? Explain.
• Where is peace found?
• How does Christ's overcoming the world encourage you?

Harold's Musings:
We sometimes seem surprised that we have troubles. To hear some speakers or read their words, if you have troubles it is because of sin. They seem to proclaim the opposite of what Christ stated. This states one of the blessings found in Christ: peace. Peace in knowing that whatever the world throws at you, Christ has overcome the world. Peace does not mean happy all the time. Peace does not mean laughing when tragedy strikes. Peace is knowing that regardless of the outcome of the trouble you are in Christ and he is greater than the world.

Peace of Christ

John 14:27

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

• Where does the peace of Christ come from?
• When Jesus talks about the world here, is he talking about the world's peace or the world's giving?
• What troubles your heart most frequently?
• What causes you to be afraid most frequently?
• How does the peace of Christ rule your fears and troubles?

Harold's Musings:
Sounds good, doesn't it? Peace. Jesus states that he is leaving peace behind and he is giving it to his followers. Like I said, it sounds good. It is good, but it may not be what I think it is. Jesus states that I have to deal with the troubled and afraid heart. He promises peace, real peace, permanent peace, eternal peace. My human nature wants peace here and now. I want to be untroubled and unafraid now and without effort. Peace is not found in a bottle or pill. Peace is found in our hope of eternal life. When I focus on the waiting inheritance and not on the stuff of the here and now, I can have peace.

Ruled by Peace

Colossians 3:15

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

• What does peace mean to you?
• What is the peace of Christ?
• Compare the peace of Christ with your idea of peace?
• What does it mean for something to rule you?
• How does this rule impact the church?

Harold's Musings:
This verse popped out yesterday. I started thinking about what it would be like to be totally at peace. No stress at work. No stress at home or church. No stress from struggling against self. At first it seemed so appealing. Then I realized that it would be boring. As humans we seem to look for stress and struggles. People all over the world are sports fans and they thrive on the competition, which is not peaceful. The peace of Christ is something special. Recently I had an experience where I had to prepare a plan for work. It took me some time to form it in my mind but I was not at peace with it. I showed it to my fellow workers who thought it was good. I was still uneasy. I finally showed it to my president, who not only agreed with it but actively discussed it and added his thoughts to the overall plan. I left that meeting at peace. Are your daily plans in line with what Christ would want? Are your relationships with others ruled by the peace and mercy you receive from God through Christ? Do you know that you can have the full backing of Heaven itself if you and Christ agree on your plans to do His will? Peace Out!

Forgiveness is Core

Colossians 3:12-15

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

• What is the reason for putting on these qualities?
• How do the various qualities listed here connect to forgiveness?
• What is supposed to rule your heart?
• What are the consequences of not having these qualities?

Harold's Musings:
You are God's set apart and loved people. You are expected to be transformed into His image and this is a list of "garments" to put on. You are expected to exhibit these qualities as your qualities. This is important. Your attitudes (and that is what most of the list is) are yours to put into action. You cannot control other people's actions, sins, and attitudes. You can only control your actions and attitudes. You will be hurt in this fallen world. You will likely hurt someone in this fallen world. Your goal should be to be like Jesus, to forgive even when people are intentionally hurting you, to love people even when they are not so lovable. Go through your life desiring to be ruled by the peace of Christ, not the anger and upset of your selfish nature. Folks, please understand: I do not have this in place yet. I am striving and struggling. But God's Message is clear whether the messenger is worthy or not.

So also God will do ...

Matthew 18:23-35

23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

• How would you feel if you owed $20 million dollars and had a $30,000 per year salary?
• How would you feel if you owed $10,000 dollars and had a $30,000 per year salary?
• What words did the first servant say to the master?
• What words did the second servant say to the first servant?
• Who turned in the first servant?
• How much did the master want the first servant to repay in v. 34?

Harold's Musings:
To me, this passage is in contention for most scary passage in the New Testament. It simply comes down to the last two verses. The master threw the servant in prison to repay the original debt. The servant had not borrowed more money. The master had previously removed the debt from the payment due status, but the debt was still on the books. Because the servant did not forgive as he had been forgiven, the RULE came into play. If I read verse 35 correctly, this is how God will treat us if we do not forgive from the heart. That's right. Every past sin is back on the table. I don't know about you but I don't want my sins back on the table. Let me see... who else do I need to forgive?

How many times?

Matthew 18:21-22

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

• What was the number of times to forgive in a day in Luke 17:3-4?
• Why might Peter have come up with his number of times to forgive?
• What was Jesus' number of times to forgive this time?
• In your opinion, why did Jesus dramatically increase the number?

Harold's Musings:
Scholars argue over whether Jesus said seventy times seven or seventy seven times. Granted there is a quantitative difference between the two, but I struggle enough with ONE. This a little, powerful, clearly understood passage. Forgive from the heart and not the head. If you are keeping count, I question that you truly forgave the first time. In order for me to know that I forgave someone six times, I have to have maintained a record of their wrongs and a corresponding record of my rights. While forgiveness does not mean amnesia, it does mean not keeping records. There is a different quality to "yeah, she hurt me sometime ago but it's no big deal" and "yes, I have forgiven her for when she hurt me on March 15 in the afternoon when she said ...". Are you a record keeper? How much grace is there in keeping emotional books?

Faith and forgiveness

Luke 17:3-6

3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

• What are you supposed to do when someone sins?
• What are you to do if someone wrongs you?
• How many times are you to do this?
• How sincere would you consider the repentance of this repeat offender?
• How does that change your response?
• What does the power of faith have to do with forgiveness?

Harold's Musings:
It is bad enough that I have to forgive to be forgiven. Now I have to forgive obviously insincere people who just say that they have changed but really haven't. That is just not right. Oh, wait a minute. How many times have I told God I was going to stop a particular sin and turned around and did it again. Uh-oh. The same rule is in play: God is to imitate our forgiving. This is just inhuman! The Bible printers like to break up this passage with headings that seem to disconnect v. 5-6 from the forgiveness. As I read this Jesus states that you need miracle level faith to live this way. It take deep, profound trust in God's word and wisdom to live this differently from the world. And if we do the power is there to do it. Play by the rule today.

Prayer and Forgiveness

Mark 11:20-25

20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

• What does Jesus say about doubt and prayer?
• What does Jesus say about the limits of prayer?
• What does Jesus say you should every time you pray?
• What is the reason for forgiving others?
• Why would Jesus connect the power of prayer with forgiving others?

Harold's Musings:
How many times have you heard in a public prayer, "Forgive us our [unforgiven] sins"? Couple of million times? How many times have you heard in a public prayer, "Forgive those who have wronged [me, us, the church, Jesus]? One hand? Two hands? I know I don't have to take my shoes off to finish the count. This is one of those little, hidden, not discussed passages. We often have heard sermons on the power of prayer and rightly so. Jesus connects prayer and forgiveness in a powerful way. Notice: whenever you pray, forgive. Not sometimes, every time. And the reason: that God may forgive your sins. There seems to be a rule in play: Forgive so that you can be forgiven. Hmmmm..... Sounds like an important rule.

Forgive like God

Matthew 6:12-15

12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

• How does this passage challenge God to imitate us?
• Why might the "temptation" portion of the prayer be between the "forgiveness" portion and the "forgiveness" commentary?
• Why is forgiveness so difficult for most people?
• How do you feel when you read v. 14 closely and with full attention?

Harold's Musings:
One of the common actions that result from anger is resentment, i.e. keeping a record of wrongs (1 Co. 13:5). Over the years I have found that resentments or at least keeping records of mistakes and hurts are common in the church. Those of us who are "perfect" keep an unwritten tally of who messed up and how often. Those of us who are insecure remember every word, action, or even look that hurt us. We like things our way and when we don't get our way we remember. Divisions in the church have resulted from resentment that moved from simmering to boiling over. All of this comes back to this passage. Do you want God to imitate you? Ooooouuuucccchhhh!

Angry wirh a brother

Matthew 5:21-26

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

• What is the connection between murder and anger?
  
• Why is anger such a dangerous emotion?
  
• Why is God concerned even about the words we speak in anger?
  
• Why would Jesus jump from your anger to your wrongdoing?
• How is forgiveness connected to anger?

Harold's Musings:
I have been dwelling on anger for several days and some of you are probably getting angry about it. :-) I have fought against my anger for decades. Only once in my life have I been so angry that I truly could not see straight. I had been callously and intentionally wronged by a lab instructor. I did not do anything wrong as a result of my anger, but oh did I feel like doing something. This passage is part of the "you have heard but" series of lessons Jesus is delivering. Each of these YHHB lessons starts with an action that God had forbidden and Jesus "kicks it up a notch" by talking about the underlying attitudes. So often when we get angry, we neglect the wrongs we have done to others. We focus on the injustice shown to us while ignoring the injustice we have shown others. So as the week comes to a close, who are you angry with? Who is angry with you? Ouch!

Jesus was angry

Mark 3:1-6

1 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” 4 And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

• What made Jesus angry?
• What action did Jesus take when he was angry?
• What would you have done in this situation?
• What situations routinely make you angry?
• What is the underlying reason for your anger?
• What would Jesus do in the same situations?

Harold's Musings:
I find it very interesting that this is only time in God's Word that it states Jesus was angry. Not the temple cleansing. Not the betrayal by Judas. Not even when he called Peter Satan in Matt. 16:21-23. His anger was not because his enemies were out to get him, but because they had no compassion for the man with the problem. Here they are Pharisees, self-avowed most righteous, and they are more concerned about "being right" than "doing right". Contrast Jesus' anger-motivated action with the Pharisees'. Jesus did a good thing. The Pharisees compromised their principles and values by joining with their exact opposites just to destroy Jesus. I suspect most of us are much more like the Pharisees than like Jesus when we get angry. If you are going to use Jesus' anger as an excuse for being angry, then follow his example and do God's righteousness.

Jesus may have been angry

John 2:13-21

13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body.

• What indication(s) do you see that Jesus was angry?
• How long does it take to make a whip of cords?
• What was Jesus' purpose in doing what he did?
• As an obedient Jewish boy, how many times had he been to temple for Passover?
• How many times had he seen the "house of trade"?
• Why violence now?

Harold's Musings:
I can see where people would conclude Jesus was in a fit of rage here. Unfortunately a fit of rage is about being out of control and acting without thinking. That is sinful. Jesus took the time to make the whip, which he probably needed to drive out the sheep and cattle. Was Jesus angry about what he saw? I think he could have been, but it does not say so. I know scholars have argued if this is the same event as the cleansing after the triumphant entry. I believe this was the first time Jesus went to Passover after the Holy Spirit came down on him. I believe the sense of offense was greater than previous visits to the temple. This passage does NOT give us permission to be full of rage, even "righteous rage". This was about the physical temple of God. That building does not exist today. Blowing up abortion clinics because Jesus cleaned the temple cannot be justified. Blowing up at a person who dares question our belief in Jesus cannot be justified. Anger happens. You can choose what causes anger and you can choose what to do with the anger. Do not let Satan use either side of your anger.

Was Jesus angry?

Mark 11:11-19

11 And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. ...
[the next morning] 15 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19 And when evening came they went out of the city.

Matt. 21:11-13

12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

Luke 19:45-46

45 And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.”

• What evidence is there in these passages that Jesus was angry when he cleared the temple?
• How many times had Jesus been to the temple prior to this?
  
• Why was it too late in the Mark passage?
• If Jesus was angry at what he saw in the Mark passage, did he sin by letting the sun go down (Eph 4:26)?
• If Jesus' actions in the temple were expressions of anger, was it a fit of anger/rage?
• What does Mark say Jesus was doing while he was physically disrupting things?
  
• Why do we want this to be an angry moment for Jesus?

Harold's Musings:
As humans we seem to want Jesus to be angry, throwing things a round, and yelling fury. These three passages do not state Jesus was angry. They indicate a person with a job to do. Drill sergeants yell at their trainees but most are not really angry; they are doing a job. Did Jesus as the son of God have a right to be angry at what he saw? Absolutely. But how many times had he seen this and done nothing? (The other temple cleansing tomorrow.) If this were an annual event, why were the people astonished? In the three or so years that Jesus was teaching, there were many opportunities for Jesus to be angry with the religious leaders of the day. Only once does God's Word state Jesus became angry, and this event is not it. (Day after tomorrow) I do not believe that we can truthfully use these three passages to excuse our angry actions.

Is anger really ok?

Col. 3:8

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Gal. 5:19-21

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

• What does God want you to do with anger?
• What expressions of anger are stated in the lists?
• What secondary effects of anger are in the lists?
• What is a "fit of anger" and what does it look like?
• What is the difference between feeling angry and expressing anger?
• What is the difference between a momentary feeling of anger and a crock pot of anger?

Harold's Musings:
Everyone will occasionally have feelings of anger, but some of us are just angry people. Angry people are like mine fields. There are triggers everywhere and only the foolish approach without caution. The concern is not so much that they will get angry but what will they do when they are angry. Some just blow up, do their damage, and expect there to be no fallout. Others just add the new wrong to the cauldron of simmering anger and wait for the right opportunity. In James 1:19-20, it talks about being slow to anger. I see the problem with anger with three facets: tendency to become angry, speed of anger, and expressing anger. Consider yourself. Are you a minefield or a nice meadow with a few bees flying around?

Anger and Satan's Opportunities

Ephes. 4:26-27

26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.

Ephes. 4:31-32

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

• Why do you think God made us with the capacity for anger?
• How does anger give the devil opportunity?
• Why does God want things resolved quickly?
• What other "wrongs" does your anger hang out with?
• How can you be tender-hearted and forgiving along with being angry?
• Why is it easier to get (and stay) mad than to resolve and forgive?
• How do you feel about facing the anger of God?

Harold's Musings:
It has been said that there is little that God created that Satan cannot distort for his schemes. If you think about it, it is sort of intimidating. Food, sex, anger, love, grace, and the list goes on. All of them have been used by Satan in his plans. Anger has the potential to be one of the most dangerous. Murder, domestic violence, child and animal abuse, gossip, slander, factions, and the list goes on. When Satan uses food against me, the hurt is generally limited to me. When he uses anger, others suffer and those hurts are usually slow to heal. Remember: Satan is out to take you down, roaming around looking. You have Jesus on your side. Anger will happen. Sin from the anger does not have to happen.

Eternal Comfort

2 Thes. 2:16-17

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

• What is implied about a person if they need comfort?
• Where does our eternal comfort come from?
• What is comfort related to in this passage?
• What is the difference between the "eternal comfort" and the comfort Paul was asking for the readers?
• Why would we need comfort to do good works and speak good words?
• Why would we need to be established to do good works and speak good words?

Harold's Musings:
Sometimes the best comfort is simply hope. Most of us have endured some form of physical pain knowing or at least hoping that it would end sometime. When we face the worst the world has to offer, we can endure if we remember that eternal hope laid out in front of us. Hope is so "future" though. We need to be established here to do the job. The NIV and NASB uses strenghtened which is part of it. The underlying Greek word is to be fixed in direction, to be firmly set, to be strengthened in resolve, or to be fortified. It is the word used when Jesus fixed His eyes on Jerusalem knowing what was waiting for Him there. It is making a stand for Christ in spite of the consequences here because we have hope of the eternal comfort that is in store. Let's stand up out there today.

God of All Comfort

2 Cor. 1:3-5

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

• Who or what do you first turn to for comfort?
• How frequently do you look for God's comfort in time of trouble?
• When do you typically look for God's comfort in time of trouble?
• How do you feel when you realize that the trouble you now have may be preparing you to help someone else?
• How does your suffering compare to what Christ went through?

Harold's Musings:
Once again we find sharing in Christ's sufferings. Here we get a bit more insight. As Christ was comforted in knowing that God's will was best and endured what was set before Him, we have the same challenge. When we are suffering because of the will of God, God will comfort us. His mechanism for delivering comfort may be another Christian who understands because they have been through it. Have you been rejected when you have tried to share Christ? He was rejected as Christ. Have you been mocked or insulted because you are a Christian? He was mocked and insulted because He was Christ. Is your suffering about life or about Christ?

Rejoice in Sharing Christ's Sufferings

1 Peter 4:12-13

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

• What is your initial response when things go bad?
• How can ordeals test you and what is being tested?
• Why did Peter imply that we are to expect ordeals?
• What are the sufferings of Christ that we can share?
  
• How does rejoicing relate to the degree that we share Christ's sufferings?
• How often are we more concerned about our suffering than sharing Christ's sufferings?
  
• How does the thought of Christ's coming stir you?

Harold's Musings:
When I think of Christ's sufferings, I see the trial and crucifixion that He endured without complaint. The intended audience of this letter were likely enduring something similar. They were losing their possessions and perhaps their family. The suffering they were feeling was very real. Too many of the things I think I suffer are merely consequences of life and growing old. I have seldom felt real suffering because of Christ. When I deny myself the pleasures of this world, I experience some of the suffering that Christ experienced. When I see religious leaders turning Christ into a political tool, I suffer at seeing my King being used for earthly junk. I think I need to pay more attention to the stuggles in my walk and rejoice.

Rejoice Always

1 Thes. 5:16-18

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

• How is it possible to rejoice always?
• How would this continual rejoicing be apparent?
• Why would you want to rejoice always, even when things are going bad and no relief is in sight?
• Why is bring thankful in all circumstances related to joy?
  
• How does it help or hinder your rejoicing knowing that it is God's will for you in Christ Jesus?
• What do you do to remind yourself to rejoice?

Harold's Musings:
Always and all are such inclusive words. They leave so little wiggle room. My human nature wants to find a loophole, some way that always and all circumstances does not apply. I've heard people state this is just hyperbole to make a point. Somehow I don't think God would have made this passage so clear if He had not meant it. We know from 1 Thes. 2:13-16 that the people receiving this letter had been suffering. God says to rejoice and be thankful even if you are suffering. That is just so hard to remember. Lord, please help us remember.

Rejoice in the Lord

Philip. 4:4-5

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;

• How is joy different from happiness?
• When are you happy?
• When are you joyful?
• How is rejoicing in the Lord seen or perceived?
• How do you know when you are rejoicing?
• How do others know when you are rejoicing?
• What does the nearness of the Lord contribute to your joy?

Harold's Musings:
Yet another area that I struggle with. I keep confusing joy with happiness. It is hard to be happy when the bumps of life knock you around. Depending on the day a little bump may be ignored or cause a major crash. Joy is eternal. Joy is knowing that Jesus is with me even when I hit a big bump. It seems to circle around to being fully aware of His presence and trusting that this bump is just a bump and someday there will be no bumps at all. Keep the eyes on the prize.