87. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. For him, happiness is but for a moment; joy is forever.

8 January 2021

Joyful New Year! 💞

Let me share my reflection 23 September 2017.

“Happiness is but for a moment; joy is forever.

Galatians 3

Faith or Works of the Law

1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 

2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?

Apostle Paul was emphasizing that righteousness is by faith alone.

Galatians 3

11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”

12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”

He illustrated this in case of Abraham; God in His grace gave assurance to Abraham through a promise, and Abraham's faith was credited as righteousness.

Galatians 3

The Law and the Promise

16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. 

17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 

18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

Apparently, there were those alienating the Galatians through traditions of Judaism.

Galatians 4

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.

Success brings happiness, having been able to meet the requirements. 

Failure makes us try to appeal, and when we are given grace, an undeserved favor, then the joy is ours having been given a special privilege inspite of our shortcoming. 

The joy comes from gratitude for the undeserved favor....joy for God's grace, the joy that is forever.

“Lord, I don't exactly remember, but there must have been a time that I failed my parents in school; yes, I was scolded yet I was encouraged to do better. I was grateful for another chance, the joy was mine; it was the same when I became a parent, the joy is mine to encourage my children when they are failing in some way. A father will always build up his children, and children will always strive to honor parents. Lord, mine is the joy for Your grace shown on me; gratitude wellsprings from my heart. May I give You honor in return, may You find me faithful, in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.””

“Most of us don’t choose a difficult life—it chooses us. But we can choose our response to it. As someone once said, “Pain is inevitable but misery is optional.” Yet, when difficulties arise, misery often seems to be the only option.

Joy is no option. It’s your responsibility.”

Yes, joy is a choice. Here it is,

Choosing Joy By: Joanie Yoder, From Our Daily Bread.

“Author Lloyd Ogilvie tells of a Christian friend who was physically and emotionally depleted because of extreme pressures. A depressed mood engulfed him. When Ogilvie asked him how he was doing, he said grimly, “Well, joy’s certainly no option!” Ogilvie replied, “You’re right! Joy is no option. It’s your responsibility.”

Shocked, the friend retorted, “You talk about joy as if it were a duty.” Ogilvie responded, “Right again!” He explained that we have a duty to God, ourselves, and others to overcome our moods and to battle through to joy.

In Romans 5, Paul gave these reasons for joy: We have peace with God through Christ, access into grace, and hope of future glory (vv.1-2). We have assurance that tribulation produces perseverance, which in turn builds character and leads to hope (vv.3-4). We have hope that doesn’t disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts (v.5).

Fill your mind with these truths. Then, no matter what your circumstances, you can choose joy.”

Yes, we can choose joy.

My children's children will one day say, wala ka sa Lolo ko; for him, happiness is but for a moment; joy is forever.

Habakkuk 3

17 Though the fig tree does not bud

    and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

    and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

    and no cattle in the stalls,

18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

    I will be joyful in God my Savior. Amen.

Maraming salamat.