Preacher’s Corner

Mike’s office hours:

Tuesdays & Thursdays —

9:00am to 1:00pm

Other times by appointment

Phone: (734) 439-7318

Email: minister@milanchurchofchrist.com

 

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2008

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Join Us:

 

-SUNDAY-

9:30AM: Bible Study

10:30AM: Worship

6:00PM: Evening Worship

 

-WEDNESDAY-

7:00PM: Bible Study

Mike’s Office Hours:

 

-Tuesday-

9:00am to 1:00pm

 

-Thursday-

9:00am to 1:00pm

 

Other times by appointment(734) 439-7318

Rejoicing with the Rejoicing

             I asked my son what would he lead if he were song leading at church.  He answered “Deep and Wide”.  I could just imagine this little 4 year old trying to teach us to move our hands in the right way.  While I was at camp last year, the young children’s favorite song was “Peace Like A River”.  One of the verses, “I’ve got the joy like a fountain in my soul” reminds us of the joy being a child of God.  Those who can remember singing “Jesus Loves Me”, “The B-I-B-L-E”, or even my personal favorite “The Sea of Galilee”, knows there are “Precious Memories”.  Even in the book of Philippians, chapter four, verse four, it is put to a song “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.”  James wrote “Is any merry?  Let him sing psalms,” (James 5:13).  Jesus even told us about the praise of children, “And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say?  And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?” (Matthew 21: 16).  We can rejoice with children who rejoice in God. 

             It might not be apparent those around different people at work or immediate family, yet loneliness creeps into the hearts of many.  There are times when being alone seems to take much of the pleasure out of living, for God made us to be social creatures.  One can have pleasure, fun, or enjoyment alone, but it is usually better with another, like watching a sporting event or a funny movie.  We can laugh to ourselves, but when another is around our enjoyment is enhanced.  Pleasure, fun and enjoyment are definitely allowed to us as God’s children (1 Tim. 6:17), yet God would rather us be full of joy…like a fountain.  There are times when we are full of joy, even being alone.  Joy can be greatly enhanced by God in times of loneliness, for then we seek not pleasure, fun or the immediate thrills of life, but the eternal love of God toward our souls.  If we slow down, take a moment, reflect upon the love of God, the hope of heaven, and the Christians who truly care, as we are alone, joy fills our heart.  John wrote, “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full,” (1 John 1:4). 

             Our soul longs for, desires intently, the day when we are in heaven with God and our Savior.  Hope is not just the desire, but desire with expectation or confidence, “But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm until the end,” (Hebrews 3:6).  Peter wrote, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and fully of glory,” (1 Peter 1:6-8).  The fleeting moments of pain, trials, temptations, and disappointments will one day cease.  All the promises of God reassure us that we will have victory in Christ.

“O victory in Jesus, my Savior forever.

He sought me and bought me, with His redeeming blood.

He loved me ere, I knew him, and all my love is due him.

He plunged me to victory, beneath the cleansing flood.”

 

              Though there is no other joy like eternal salvation, one must repent from the heart to have that joy.  Jesus tells us three parables recorded in Luke: the first is the shepherd who rejoiced that his sheep was found; the second is the woman who found her lost coin, and the third was a father who rejoiced that his son was not dead and returned home.  In the midst of those parables Jesus tells us, “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth,” (Luke 15:10).  Each repentant child of God is rejoicing with the rejoicing.

                                        — Michael Golwitzer II

                                                        June 29, 2008