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The Monday Minute

How is your joy today?

Published about 2 months ago • 2 min read

Monday Minute

Weekly email devotion from Living Stone | 2 minute read

Philippians 1:21

For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.

How is your joy lately? Is your life bringing you up or down? Are relationships filling you up or leaving lacking? Is your job providing a paycheck or proving a nuisance? What is happening in your life right now and how is it affecting you emotionally? External circumstances often will impact your daily happiness. One minute you can be on top of the world, then next minute you receive a text message or email and you come crashing down.

That’s true however of happenings in life. Happenings impact our happiness. They do not have to determine your joy. Joy is deeper. Joy is constant because it’s a fruit of God’s Spirit working and present in your heart. Joy isn’t based on happenings. It’s based on Christ and what he has done. Joy is anchored in heavenly things, not things here on earth. That’s where Philippians 1 comes in.

Paul wrote Philippians when he was in jail. Those are some pretty bad circumstances. Yet, as he writes, his words reveal a steady, deep-seated joy. To live is Christ. Yes, in jail he had Christ. Nothing changed about his status with God, Christ’s presence in his life, or God’s love for him. Living is always good because every day on earth is a gracious opportunity to enjoy God’s forgiveness, grace, and opportunities to serve. All that is true through Christ.

His heavenly destination was certain and so if this day was the end, that was OK. To die meant eternal life, heaven, salvation from the up’s and down’s of this world, and eternal peace. That’s what gave Paul a deep-seated, steady joy. Happenings will happen. Joy can’t be altered because it isn’t based on life here. It’s based on Christ.

The same is true for you. Live today with the joy of a relationship with Christ, a new identity, peace with God, and a God-given purpose. Today is a day of grace and opportunity to live for God. Eternity is set for you through Christ. All that is yours through your Savior. I pray that truth for today and your eternal home grows your joy deeper and deeper.

Pastor Jeremy Belter

Sermon from February 15

Transfiguration Sunday! What is that all about? There are many events in the life of Jesus that are pretty easy to understand and figure out their meaning. Transfiguration may not be one of them right away. But upon closer inspection, we will learn invaluable truths about Jesus and be built up in our faith in Him.

Ash Wednesday Service: February 18

Join us this week for Ash Wednesday at Living Stone with the imposition of ashes. We'll start at 6:30 p.m. at Ralston's Crossing Event Center.

Living Stone Lutheran Church | 7400 Indiana St, Arvada, CO 80007
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The Monday Minute

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