James Hammack is a regular contributor to The Rope. He also is digital services manager for The Alabama Baptist/TAB Media. He also serves as worship pastor at Sovereign Grace Church, Prattville. He and his wife, Alicia, have three children.
When we gather as a church, we sing songs that remind us and celebrate who God is and what He has done. I know that we often bring hardship into the gathering — hurt, difficulties. But are you allowing those things to overshadow your joy or are you fighting for your joy to overshadow those things?
It’s not that we can’t find joy in other things. We should find joy in all the gifts of God. It is that if we are not satisfied in God first then we won’t have complete joy in anything.
When we grow and cultivate our understanding of the goodness of God, when we grow in humility, when we grow in thankfulness, when we run first to God for refuge, we will be kept and safeguarded and preserved. And joy abounds from this place.
We can’t simply demonstrate the gospel, we must proclaim it as well!
If you are in Christ, then you yourself know the gospel. There is no way to be saved yourself if you don’t know the content of the gospel. It’s impossible.
There is not one sin that you and I have or ever will commit for which Jesus has not paid the price.
When we live our daily lives for the sake of Christ’s Kingdom and we are motivated by the joys of being invited to join in on God’s timeless work of redemption and displayed glory, what can damper that?
So when Christmas comes, may it be a reminder of His presence. And when the holiday concludes, may the Lord keep His presence on the forefront of our hearts and minds so much so that we approach New Years differently than the world around us. Let’s plan and pray and think and hope with the presence and glory of God in full view.
When we gather as a church, we sing songs that remind us and celebrate who God is and what He has done. I know that we often bring hardship into the gathering — hurt, difficulties. But are you allowing those things to overshadow your joy or are you fighting for your joy to overshadow those things?
It’s not that we can’t find joy in other things. We should find joy in all the gifts of God. It is that if we are not satisfied in God first then we won’t have complete joy in anything.
When we grow and cultivate our understanding of the goodness of God, when we grow in humility, when we grow in thankfulness, when we run first to God for refuge, we will be kept and safeguarded and preserved. And joy abounds from this place.
We can’t simply demonstrate the gospel, we must proclaim it as well!
If you are in Christ, then you yourself know the gospel. There is no way to be saved yourself if you don’t know the content of the gospel. It’s impossible.
There is not one sin that you and I have or ever will commit for which Jesus has not paid the price.
When we live our daily lives for the sake of Christ’s Kingdom and we are motivated by the joys of being invited to join in on God’s timeless work of redemption and displayed glory, what can damper that?
So when Christmas comes, may it be a reminder of His presence. And when the holiday concludes, may the Lord keep His presence on the forefront of our hearts and minds so much so that we approach New Years differently than the world around us. Let’s plan and pray and think and hope with the presence and glory of God in full view.
Subscribe to receive new post notifications
