The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
(a repeat from 2014, which speaks to the subject raised in yesterday's message)
"Rejoice Always?"
Part 2 - 'Brown Eyes and Buster'
My wife Frances and I met at church in the spring of 1976. We became friends before our courtship began, and often frequented a local restaurant after church to talk about the Lord, our lives, and whatever subject might come up (and, unbeknownst to us, to fall in love).
One day, Frances shared with me a passage from the book of James. "The Lord is teaching me," she said, "to count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations" (James 1:2). I was familiar with the command, having been disturbed by it several times in my still fledgling Christian life.
"Oh, it doesn't mean that" I immediately responded, with an air of 19 year old male wisdom and authority (now there's an oxymoron!). I expected my pontification to end the discussion, hoping to move on to less challenging matters.
Frances, however, failed to be dazzled by my spiritual brilliance, insight, and cocksure demeanor. "What do you mean it doesn't mean that?" She looked directly into my green eyes with her beautiful, but piercing brown eyes.
I would come to learn over the years that the brown eyes usually win. I averted my gaze to avoid their challenge. "Well, it doesn't mean that" I repeated.
Frances didn't divert her gaze. She looked at me with puzzlement and consternation (a word of advice: in matters of Scripture, one does well not to raise questions with Frances about their authority and obvious meaning). "If it doesn't mean that," she said, "then what does it mean?"
I didn't have the foggiest idea. I just knew it couldn't possibly mean we are to count as "all joy" every trial and tribulation of our lives. I said as much to her. Frances paused for a brief moment, gathered her thoughts, and then declared, "Well, Buster (she didn't actually say "Buster." But it felt like it!), "Well, until you can tell me what it does mean, I think I'll just take it at face value!"
More than 45 years later, "face value" remains her standard regarding the Scriptures. I joined the parade of faith regarding James' command not too long after the aforementioned episode as I witnessed Frances exemplify and affirm the truth of counting it all joy. James meant what he wrote. Even more, our Heavenly Father meant what James wrote. He unequivocally calls us to consider every trouble of our lives in the joy of His working all things after the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
Note that James does not call us to "feel" our challenges joyfully, but to "count" (consider) them so. We are to view difficulties through the lens of faith that sees God's involvement in all things. Sometimes sorrow will wrack our hearts and tears will stream from our eyes as we look Heavenward to affirm joy in Christ - "as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (II Corinthians 6:10). Joy nevertheless begins with conviction and faith as we choose to "rejoice in the Lord" regardless of condition, circumstance, or how we feel (Philippians 4:4). Glad emotions will come later as God vindicates the confidence we choose to affirm when our world seems to be crashing in upon us and our hearts feel crushed.
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed and the mountains be carried into the sea" (Psalm 46:1-2).
Again, Frances continues to count it all joy. And "Buster?" Well, I'm learning. I am grateful for the example with whom I live this life in which God's presence and loving involvement fills all things. "Count it all joy?" Yes, it does mean that. We can and must affirm the joy of Christ in all things and at all times. We do so as a matter of faith, and as a matter of obedience. We also do so because our Lord's joy resides within our spirits if we have believed, and because failure to count it all joy means that we are living in the darkness that chooses not to see Truth and reality. The Lord Jesus sacrificed too much for such unbelief to govern our hearts. Moreover, too much is at stake in our lives to count our challenges, whatever their nature and measure, as anything but "all joy." Yes, the brown eyes were right. They are right. How grateful Buster is for them.
"Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness."
(Psalm 97:12)
Weekly Memory Verse
Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.
(Psalm 97:12)
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