“The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb!  Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”  Psalm 126:3-6

The Psalms often lament a loss, and they often proclaim joy. The writer of Psalm 126 is happy because of the things the Lord has done, and the things the Lord will do in the future. This is true faith – trusting that the Lord will do great things.

Few of us can predict the future. Those who can predict the future are often wrong more than they are right. There are many reasons that we can fear life, and have doubts. In 2020/21, the year of the pandemic, we have all experienced more losses than we have experienced gains in our lives. So many people have lost jobs, homes, apartments, and relationships this pandemic year. Many more are viewing the church in a state of decline, and our society is perhaps becoming more secular and less religious. We fear that we worship in futility, not in the futility of the promises of G-d, but in the futility of fulfilling the great commission given by Jesus in Matthew 28:19 –to make disciples of all nations. Will people come back to church? Or will they become comfortable worshipping from home and believe it is too risky to their health to gather in large groups ever again. We worry about how we are going to reach people in the community with our message of Christ – the message that brings us joy.

Sometimes we think we are called to go out and drag people in to hear the Gospel of Jesus. What we need to remember is our very life is a living proclamation of the Gospel of Christ – that when we live into the joy of Christ, our lives should be living demonstrations that the Lord is doing great things in the world. When G-d has filled us with joy, everyone around us notices. So that when people ask us what is up, we don’t need a sermon to explain — just a simple word, or perhaps seven words that proclaim to those around us the greatness and glory of G-d, and how G-d is working in our life.

If G-d is doing great things in your life, then live in a manner in which people take notice.

Pastor Dave