Are You Lacking Joy?

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Heb 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

Let’s talk about joy today! Joy to the world, the Lord has come, and one of the reasons He came was to give you and I a joyous life. Unfortunately we often seek to find our joy in the material things of this world and we miss the boat!

 

The key to a joyous life is found in this simple line from Hebrews 12:2, “for the joy set before Him.” Jesus had a job to do, it was “set before Him” by the Father, and He did it! That was the key to His joy, and it’s the key to yours and mine as well.

 

Yes, it cost Him the pain and the shame of the cross, but He endured it and is now seated at the right hand of God!

 

As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, saved by grace through faith, God has set joy fulfilling works for you along the path of your redeemed life as asserted in Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

 

Look for those works today, God gave you the DNA (physical and spiritual) to handle them that you may enter into the same kind of joy that Jesus experienced.

 

As you and I use our giftedness (talent) in the kingdom, we enter into the joy of the Lord, a joy that was promised to the faithful servants in the parable of the talents!

 

It was not just a “well done thy good and faithful servant” “enter into the joy of your lord.'

 

Are you lacking joy in your life. You won’t find it turning inward, but it is yours for the taking as you look outward, for those opportunities to love and serve that God will bring your way today.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

No More Face Plants

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Heb 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

 

Having just finished the “faith hall of fame” chapter of the Bible which recounted the exploits of the likes of Abraham, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, David, Samson, and others! People who “out of weakness were made strong.” (Heb 11:34)

 

We are encouraged to follow their example of reliance upon God. It’s not that we have some sort of spiritual cloud of departed saints swarming around us and cheering us on. (They have bigger fish to fry in the presence of the Lord) but rather it is their examples found in scripture that urge us onward to finish the race as they did!

 

So cast off every weight, every burden, toss it onto the broad shoulders of Christ, for He cares for you! (1 Pet 5:7)

Get your feet untangled from those sins that will trip you up. If you’ve ever tripped over a vine and face planted while walking in the woods you know how sneaky sin can be. You get untangled when you give those sins to Jesus! 1Pe 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree,

 

Finally, run the race with endurance. Finish! Keep casting off those pesky  burdens, keep untangling your feet and one day you will be with the cloud of witnesses in the presence of the Lord!

 

No more face plants, and burden free!

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Opening the Door To Soul Care

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Most of us are familiar with the parable of the sheep and the goats and there are many lessons to be garnered from this parable, but I want to focus on the aspect of what is expected from us as followers of Jesus. You know the list but let’s go over it again:

 

Mt 25:35 For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in; 36 I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.

 

This is not the complete list of how to serve Jesus, but these admonitions can all be lumped into one category…basic needs of humanity. Food, water, shelter, clothing, and companionship. (It is not good for man to live alone. Gen 2:18

 

Someone has said that the purpose of Christmas was for Jesus to come and care for your soul. Now that you have received Him and His care for your soul,

He wants us to eliminate distractions for others who are in need of soul care. Often consumed by a lack of these physical needs, souls care is put on the back shelf!

 

So, let’s roll up our sleeves and see what we can do to eliminate distractions as we feed, provide water, shelter, clothing and companionship in the name of Jesus, opening the door to the soul care that your neighbor so desperately needs.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word