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For the Joy...



For the joy set before Him.  

 This statement leapt from my husband's mic to my heart this morning in church.  He has been preaching through Hebrews and emphasizing the author is speaking to the church about the supremacy of Christ.  We had studied the "Faith Heroes" last week.  
I was following along as he exegetically tore in to the scripture passage. 

 Therefore speaks to those heroes of the faith.  He spoke about not being trapped as our enemy seeks to trap and thwart us in every direction.

 Then he reminded us to "Let us run."  Decision making and active pursuit of attaining.  Extreme peril requiring the exertion of all one's effort to overcome.

 Fixing.  Turning from other things.  Separating.  He spoke of trust, commitment to His will and endurance in loyalty.

 Then came the words.  "For the joy set before him." My husband said, "Jesus didn't delight in being tortured, crucified and persecuted.  He delighted in knowing what He was doing was fulfilling God's plan."

 What does this mean?  "How do we live this way," I asked my husband.  This was our discussion during lunch.  How did He do this?  How do we?  What other verses discuss it?  How do we find our joy again?
"A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world." John 16:21
I understand it now.  The joy I felt in having my boys is undefinable and beyond words.  I would do anything for them and because of them.  

 For the joy.  
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. 
For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 
 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  Hebrews 12:1-3

Oh God, please show us joy.  Joy in our daily lives.  Joy for the work you have called us to do.  Help us to delight in, trust, endure, persevere and spend our strength to perform the work you have for us.  Keep our eyes fixed on you and help us to separate from all that is entangling us and that which seeks to entrap and thwart our every way.

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