"1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John1:1-5
This has been one of my favorite passages to think about.
Today was one of the more frustrating days I’ve had in a long time. I was at work and sales were just not happening, not for me at least. I mean what gives? It was like customers knew which shoes we didn’t have in the store and asked for those specific ones! Indecision was rampant, so that people were taking much more time then really should have been necessary. On the drive home I realized, that the reason I was getting frustrated was because I’m the one with the problem. I don’t look a lot like Jesus. He would have been a much kinder, gentler, compassionate sales associate. He wouldn’t be angry about people’s indecision, and He wouldn’t have any frustration to voice in the back. He also wouldn’t feel frantic or pressured to sell more to pay the bills because He would trust that the Father, who is the seer of all His needs and provider to fill them, has everything under control. Jesus would have been more concerned with serving the masses than He would have been with His numbers, because the only person He tries to impress or perform for is His Father.
My heavenly Father is a good God, and is the source of every good thing. His budget is never blown. All the money in the world is His. Daddy I thank you for the 40-some-odd dollars you gave me today. Thank you for the rest of the money you will provide for me. Thank you that whether it’s through this job or another means, you will continue to provide everything I need. You are not shocked that I need money. My bills do not shock you. Holy Spirit, please make me look more like Jesus. Amen.
I’ve been thinking about this for a couple months now; In Psalm 45, David is prophesying about Jesus and His present and coming reign over the earth after His crucifixion and resurrection to redeem us and cleanse us of our sinfulness.
In Psalm 45 David writes;
“Your Throne , O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions…”
And just in case anyone is unsure about who David is talking about, he clears that up in verse one:
“ My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;
I address my verses to the king;
My tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.”
So Jesus was the most-glad person within His circle of friends. Even if you don’t count the hundreds of followers He had during His lifetime, even of the 12 disciples and the few women on His inner circle, He was the happiest one of them all. He was actually happy. I also don’t think it’s unfair to extrapolate “companions” beyond his group of friend to mean that He’s the happiest person to ever live. This seems bizarre that the good, holy, eternal and uncreated God would even for a moment be happy to be a man living on the earth, all the while knowing that He would bear the entire weight of wrath of the Father for the sins that He took no part in. What could drive a man to do such a thing? Let alone be happy to do it. He must have considered the price worth paying for the prize He would receive afterwards; a pure and spotless bride, wooed to love Him.
Pondering this question has brought other questions to my mind:
If the Father anointed Jesus with gladness for loving righteousness and hating wickedness, then what is going on with me? What do I love that I shouldn’t? What do I hate that I shouldn’t? (Please no one offer me an answer over the internet for all the world to see. It was a rhetorical question.) Why am I not known as that ridiculously happy guy? Neither my current nor my past circumstances are any excuse, because Jesus had His own too. Isaiah 53 describes Him as a “man of sorrows” so He’s not ignorant of the subject. He wasn’t some cartoon character too dumb or oblivious to not be happy. Especially when you consider the drastic method in which He humbled Himself from creator to interact with His creation and live among us. Where should my focused attentions be, if not my circumstances? What am I loving that isn’t leading me further into loving God and finding my joy in Him? I think all of these questions could be posed to the larger church body in general, but because at the moment the only heart I’m responsible for is my own, and leading myself well is the most beneficial way I can lead the church in righteousness at the moment, I want to keep this line of questioning inward focused. (Could I possibly have found a single instance where selfishness is actually less harmful then being outwardly focused?!?)
It’s an interesting subject to ponder and would encourage other to do the same.
What a fantastic cause and effect that is! In His perfect leadership our good Father rewards us with gladness when we agree with Him. What kindness! In His wisdom He decided the best and most efficient way to gain our cooperation is to give us gladness for agreeing with His leadership. He could have given us a list of rules and motivated us with a “Because I said so…” and He’s certainly within His right to do so, but He wanted to make the process enjoyable. He really is kind and gentle.
