"Pobody's Nerfect"! :)

            Have you had your Joy Juice today? You don’t have to be perfect to drink in the joy of Jesus!

            If we are committed Christians, then our goal should be to become more and more like Christ.  Now, that does NOT mean that we will ever reach perfection.  One of my good friends often reminds me that “we’re not perfect, just forgiven”! 

            As Christians we are to be “set apart”.  But let’s not become spiritually arrogant and think we are better than others.   According to Charles Swindoll, “What sets Christian spiritual activity apart from all other religions is that they have knowledge of Christ as their goal; not moral perfection (although you will become more moral), not tranquility (although your life will become remarkably more peaceful). And because of the grace you have in Christ, the disciplines will do nothing to make you more accepted by the Father.  You cannot be more accepted than you already are in Christ, since He has already done it all for you!

            What does that have to with having joy in the Lord?  I’m glad you asked! When we are disciplining ourselves to become more like Him, we will desire to read and study His guidelines in scripture; we will be hungry to spend time with Him in prayer. Our heart’s desire will be to please and glorify HIM! And that leads to abundant joy in relationship with Christ. As the words of the beautiful old hymn says:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

              Find joy by focusing on Jesus.