Read Psalm 97:10-12. 10O you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. 11Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. 12Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!
For the one who loves the Lord light and joy have been sown. Or it may better be translated as light and joy are dawning. They’re coming. Not fully here yet, but just wait and see. Deliverance is near. Preservation is at hand.
Our response? Rejoice…now. Give thanks…today.
But light and joy aren’t here yet.
I know, but choose to live joyfully as though they are.
Isn’t this what the Apostles say is our position in Christ?
Philippians 4:4. Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS, and again I will say rejoice.
Romans 5:2. We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
1 Peter 1:8. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory…
Christian, don’t wait for things to change before you give thanks. Stop saving your joy for just the right moment like a bottle of wine you’re afraid to open and waste on the wrong moment. Don’t wait for the morning before you rejoice. Rejoice now, in the dawn. Yes, it’s a mix of darkness and light, but light will win. The sunrise is assured. The Sun of Righteousness will appear and disperse the night.
To live is Christ is to live in joy. Not to the exclusion of sorrow, the two can and must co-exist. But in the midst of sorrow choosing to rejoice in the hope of the glory of Christ breaking through like sunrise beams in our hearts.
Prayer. Jesus, you are my joy. My upright heart. My hope of glory. Help me see my life as dawn and not dusk. Amen.
To Live is Christ 