THE SECRET TO CHRISTIAN JOY

Luke 6:20-23

Luk 6:20 Then he raised his eyes toward his disciples and said: “You who are poor are actually blessed, because the kingdom of God belongs to you.
Luk 6:21 “You who hunger now are actually blessed, because you will be full. “You who weep now are actually blessed, because you will laugh.
Luk 6:22 “When people hate you, you are blessed, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject you as evil on account of the Son of Man!
Luk 6:23 Rejoice because of that day, and jump for joy, because your reward in the sky is great. Because their ancestors did the same things to the prophets.

because of that day

The secret of Christian joy is the Christian hope: the day when Christ returns and sets up his kingdom. That is why we say we are blessed, even though some of us may be poor. That is why we praise the Lord for his fullness, even if we sometimes go hungry. We can look the world’s hatred, insults and persecution in the face and laugh, not because it doesn’t hurt, but because its hurt is temporary. God’s love and his coming kingdom is permanent – permanent joy.

LORD, thank you for that coming day: our hope.