(864) 877-9813
February 16, 2004
Christ Within
by Martha Cochran, Missionary to Japan
. . .Jesus Christ, Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory (I Peter 1:7b,8).
I have always been fascinated by the words, "joy unspeakable and full of glory." This type of joy certainly isnÕt a frame of mind or attitude of the heart that you can "put on" from the outside. This is a well-spring of joy that comes from Jesus Christ, and only when He is within the heart.
The New Year holiday is the most important one in Japan. On this day, in the early morning hours, the bell at the Shinto shrine near my house is struck 40 times. The bells in Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines are cast into intricate patterns—beautiful on the outside, but hollow on the inside. Nearby, a log is suspended by a rope. A priest pulls the rope, strikes the log against the bell and sets off the mournful reverberations. Instead of proclaiming the good news of a new beginning, the sound epitomizes the hollowness and hopelessness of a people and religion without Christ. Because the sound of the bell is so depressing, I always try to get to sleep before 12 AM.
In contrast, I think of the joyous sound of bells ringing in the steeple of a Christian church! With the clappers on the inside, the bells peal forth a sound that is positive, encouraging, hopeful, uplifting, and full of joy unspeakable—a joy too wonderful to be expressed in words, a joy that speaks of Christ WITHIN.
Christ WITHIN—renewing our joy on a daily basis as we maintain a right relationship with Him.
Christ WITHIN—giving us overflowing joy so that we can encourage, uplift, and minister to those around us.
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full (John 15:11).
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