If God sees the sparrow fall,
paints the lily short and tall,
gives the sky its azure hue,
surely then He cares for you
-author unknown, inspired by Matthew 6:25-34
What are the Words of scripture that stir up joy in your heart? Tell someone about it this month.
Each week in May we will read and sing at Zion about the dramatic events that challenged Christ’s followers after His resurrection. Surprisingly, joy and the promise of joy surrounds the hard that we will read about. Christ is risen! Get ready to rejoice with them as Christ lifts us up also amid our present struggles. Every Sunday touches on an element of joy that Christ brings to our lives. Christ is risen, which means our Good Shepherd holds our present and future life in His grace, dominion, and love.
Reading together from the Psalms, the book of Acts, Revelation, and the Gospel of John, we will meditate on the surprising context for Christian joy in the Bible. Joy, enduring joy, is rooted in Jesus, His death for us, His resurrection, His ongoing rule and shepherding, and His sending us to be witnesses of salvation to others near and far. Joy surely is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5). Joy in Christ overcomes:
- our own weak faith (May 1)
- imprisonment and martyrdom (May 8)
- cultural conflict and the “birthing pains” of Christ’s mission (May 15)
- our shortcomings in service to him (May 22)
- the ascension’s “out of sight” mission for believers (May 29)
If joy seems absent in your heart. Don’t worry, Christ will renew your joy. Now in Easter awe, let us together consider the witness of those first followers of Christ and, “Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Each of this month’s weekly memory verses contains an element of Christ’s gift of renewed joy:
- May 1st “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing” Ps 30:11
- May 8th “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17
- May 15th “You have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice” John 16:22
- May 22nd “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:24
- May 29th “Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.” Psalm 47:1–2.
In Christ’s Joy,
Pastor Stephen
This post is also available in: Español (Spanish)