TRUE JOY— JESUS, OTHERS, YOURSELF

TRUE JOY— JESUS, OTHERS, YOURSELF

O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love. —Psalm 59:17

Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. —Nehemiah 8:10

            Joy someone once said is “Jesus, others, yourself.”  JESUS— We are told to ‘“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38).  So, our top priority focus is to be Jesus.  OTHERS— Then we are told to “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  This will be our second focus if we are truly living out the first focus of living for Jesus.  If we are truly living for Him then we will want to serve the lost and the saved, sharing the gospel with the lost and encouraging the saved.  Then, finally YOURSELF— “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).  “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Romans 13:9).  We want to treat people rightly and we wanted to be treated rightly.  We want to love others as we love ourselves.  With this focus of Jesus, others, yourself we will have joy!  And the joy of our Lord is our strength!

            Yes, the Lord God Almighty is our strength.  Sing praises to Him Who is our fortress, our protection and defense.  I will praise Him for the steadfast love toward me.  How grateful, Dear Father, that Your love is never ceasing toward me.  Oh, You who know my every flaw more than my wife of 45 years and still You love me.  I am so thankful and look forward to glory where I will never fail You again.  Until then, please help me to live out Your desires for me by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Precious Son Jesus.  May it be all for Your Honor and glory and for the benefit of many others.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3gLeCiMJqI