20110807: John 16:33 HOW TO NOT LOSE THE JOY, LIVING AS WE DO IN A TROUBLED WORLD

In 2 days' time,Singapore will celebrate her 46th year of independence. By this month end, we will be electing our President.

Many net citizens seems angry like the angry birds. The elastic bands were pulled in many places- slamming and hitting out on social media. Lamentations of injustices, moral decadence and increasing evil seen around us. We gawked at the recent Gaga Fun Pack and the use of foul language at a university graduation ceremony. And many said " Nothing wrong...It is happening all the time...No big deal"

I was vexed. Troubled. Until I received this timely email. Extracted Below. Above the panorama view of the Boh Tea Plantation in Cameron Highlands we went last month. Reminded me to Look to the Hills, from whence my help comes from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of the heaven and earth. Ps 121.

HOW TO NOT LOSE THE JOY, LIVING AS WE DO IN A TROUBLED WORLD By R Dwight Hill

One of Satan’s master strategies is to steal our heart and mind away from our focus on Christ through our grousing, worrying and complaining over the troubles we encounter in our world: The constant gyrations in the political arena, grappling with our national moral and spiritual crisis, the non-ethical shenanigans we are continuously running up against in the marketplace, the incessantly intrusive assault by the media in riling us up to live in a constant state of crisis. How easily we can be robbed of our joy in Christ by unnecessarily, and even unwittingly becoming embroiled in the world’s troubling issues. St. Paul shared such a concern in cautioning the believers in the City of Corinth:

“…I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” (2 Cor. 11:3)

Curious, is it not, how little attention both Jesus and Paul gave to reforming their troubled world. Clearly, it was Jesus’ intent that his followers not be carried away by the world’s troubles: In him, he said, “you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (Jn. 16:33). (See Act. 14:22) The Savior knew that the way to respond to the world’s evil was not by grousing, worrying or complaining, but by transforming it, one heart at a time.

So…how are we to keep the world from robbing us of our “sincere and pure devotion to Christ?” Psalm 37:2-9 offers us some wonderful pointers:

· Choose not to become embroiled in fussing over the world’s injustices, recognizing that God will deal with the wicked in his way, and on his timetable: ^“Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away…Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off…” (Psa. 37:1, 2, 8, 9 – selected). (See Psa. 24:1; Pro. 24:19)

· Hold steady, trusting God for protection and provision as you fulfill the responsibilities set before you: “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture (Psa. 37:4).” (See Psa. 23:1; Jer. 17:7, 8; 1 Cor. 15:58)

· Choose to make God the delight of your heart, knowing that he in turn will grant you your heart’s desire: “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psa. 37:4). (See Psa. 34:4; 1 Pet. 1:8)

· Rather than engineering the outcome of your situation, surrender it up to God who promises to honor your cause: ”Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. (Psa. 37:5, 6 – NLT).” (See Psa. 22:8; Phil. 4:6,7)

· Learn, amidst the surrounding evil the art of quiet rest before God: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked scheme (Psa. 37:7).” To be still before God means to hold your peace and wait on God. (See Psa. 27:14; 62:1)

R. Dwight Hill