THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

Years ago when I was still in college, I used to work night shift at a local convenient store. I still remember that the store’s best times and days were Friday and Saturday evenings. Those were the times when so many people came to purchase beers—lots of them—for their parties. I couldn’t help but notice their jovial spirits as they walked to the cash register to pay for these crates of beers. And, I knew they would come again the week after and the week after.THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

Years ago when I was still in college, I used to work night shift at a local convenient store. I still remember that the store’s best times and days were Friday and Saturday evenings. Those were the times when so many people came to purchase beers—lots of them—for their parties. I couldn’t help but notice their jovial spirits as they walked to the cash register to pay for these crates of beers. And, I knew they would come again the week after and the week after.

We all know that life does not consist of weekend parties. Soon the party is over and we will have to face the drudgery of life. In the end we discover that joy does not come from external factors. It does not even come from going to church or Christian fellowship or singing praises unto God, but rather from something within. And, that something—to us who are Christian—is the intimate relationship with Jesus Our Savior.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892), pastor of Metropolitan Tabernacle in London gives us a deep insight to what it means to have joy in the Lord, “However, there is a deepness of delight for every Christian when he comes into actual fellowship with God . . . . Oh, yes, communion with the Lord is not a matter of mere words . . . . We have known it in the midst of affliction. We have known it in the solitude of many a night of interrupted rest. We have known it when experiencing discouragements and sorrows . . . . Only to know that He is near us and to see the sparkle in His dear eyes, would transform even hell itself into heaven . . . .” Amen!

Joy does not float on top of discouragement and sorrow. Joy comes out of discouragement and sorrow; it comes out of assurance that Jesus is near me. Yes, God’s presence transforms hell into heaven.

Pastor Paul

We all know that life does not consist of weekend parties. Soon the party is over and we will have to face the drudgery of life. In the end we discover that joy does not come from external factors. It does not even come from going to church or Christian fellowship or singing praises unto God, but rather from something within. And, that something—to us who are Christian—is the intimate relationship with Jesus Our Savior.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892), pastor of Metropolitan Tabernacle in London gives us a deep insight to what it means to have joy in the Lord, “However, there is a deepness of delight for every Christian when he comes into actual fellowship with God . . . . Oh, yes, communion with the Lord is not a matter of mere words . . . . We have known it in the midst of affliction. We have known it in the solitude of many a night of interrupted rest. We have known it when experiencing discouragements and sorrows . . . . Only to know that He is near us and to see the sparkle in His dear eyes, would transform even hell itself into heaven . . . .” Amen!

Joy does not float on top of discouragement and sorrow. Joy comes out of discouragement and sorrow; it comes out of assurance that Jesus is near me. Yes, God’s presence transforms hell into heaven.

Pastor Paul