A Different Perspective

I've been reading the Gospel of Luke for my devotions.  I'm almost through the first two chapters and I'm struck by the joy that weaves through the passage.  Not only do people like Elizabeth, Zechariah and Mary express joy but God declares it.  It's a big part of Christ's ministry.  

This made me wonder - where' the joy today?  Do we really look at Christ's coming with a joy that makes other people envious?

After my devotional time, I met with Elizabeth Grady-Harper.  She's on the teaching team and will be speaking at services this summer.  We're working on the Old Testament Challenge (something I'm excited about and will blog about later).  She'll be teaching out of Genesis 3.  Then I had a thought: "Maybe we don't have the joy of salvation because we don't understand the turmoil of our sin."

We live in a world where people are seen as basically good making bad decisions.  However, the bible sees people as broken occassionaly making some good decisions - nothing so good that it repairs the brokenness.  When you live in the world's perspective, you don't need to be saved by anyone, you can figure it out yourself.  When you live in the bible's perspective, you understand the need to be saved.

I think that when we see ourselves with the bible's perspective, we get the joy.  

Wondering about these passages?  Use the bible search function on the right side of this blog and read the chapters yourself!