Approaching Christmas with Joy - Day 1The Phantom Intercessor - 13 Dec 2010
Suffering and Joy
We live in a culture of instant gratification
‘Buy now, pay later’ is our slogan
Jesus lived a life of delayed gratification
‘For the joy set before him, he endured the cross’
The joy of people now being able to approach the Father, the joy of sins forgiven and eternal life shared together!
Mary had the joy of being a mother
Facing the shame of a pre-marital pregnancy
- -S-U-F-F-E-R-I-N-G- - - > JOY
The joy of knowing the Saviour of the world has come, that there is now a way to approach the Father because sins are forgiven and eternal life can be shared together!
I have given up family, friends, home and job
In the hope that some in this new land will come into the light
- -S-U-F-F-E-R-I-N-G- - - > JOY
The joy of showing there is an open way to the Father, through belief in his Son, who has paid for our sins and so we can share eternal life together!
For the joy set before us, we are called to take up our cross and follow.
What is the joy to come?
What is the suffering to endure?
Where is your focus?
As we wait for Christmas, the celebration, the feast and the wonder of an incarnate God 24-7 Prayer will be posting a series of reflections to help us to wait well. We have asked friends from across the movement and around the world to creatively express themselves and focus us on the coming of Christ. During the 3rd week of advent we're thinking about Joy. Follow along with the 24-7 Prayer 'Approaching Advent' Calendar.