The news is bad. Nearly always, our news sources contain grim stories, depressing trajectories and disheartening testimonies.
Christian news is sometimes little better. I’m glad for a newspaper, en, that strikes a balance between a realistic view of a sin-infested world and an optimistic view of Spirit-infected people. But it would be easy to see the former and not the latter.
And so, every day, I have to consciously and deliberately determine to find joy in the good things God gives. ‘Rejoice’ in the Bible is a command, not a feeling. Increasingly, I’m seeing that joy is to be found in – of all places – our Sunday gatherings.
For many, church is an end-of-the-week experience. Just get through it. It’s a new start tomorrow. Not only is that technically wrong (Sunday is the first day of the week, remember!), it is spiritually wrong also.
Thinking positively about Sunday
So, I’ve made more of an effort to think positively about Sunday as the first day of the week, and the gathering of God’s people as the best part of it.
We’ve recently had nine baptisms in our middle-sized church: a great encouragement to us. Many of the stories of those being baptised included some form of the same testimony: ‘we were struck/ overwhelmed/impressed (choose your verb) by the community of God’s people.’ To borrow the title of Jamie Dunlop’s excellent book, they had truly found a ‘Compelling Community’.
And if that is true for unbelievers, how much should it be true for those who know and love the Saviour? Here are three places I’ve learnt to look for joy on a Sunday.
Wonders of God’s people
Mixing up people from different backgrounds, cultures, classes, languages, education levels and so on could be a disaster and – let’s be honest – often is if we let it be. But if the church is truly a gathered people of God from all walks of life, there is something beautiful about it. It should bring us joy.
When I hear someone pray in church in a different accent, or a different way, there’s no place for a critical spirit. Rather, the Spirit lifts my heart to rejoice at the international work He is doing to fulfil the purposes of God.
I love music, but not just because I am a musician. I love a particular kind of music, and that is singing praise to our great God – Father, Son and Spirit. There is joy to be found in doing this with God’s people. Praises ascribe greatness to our God, but they also do something to us. They bring a joy, delight and confidence that singing alone in the shower simply cannot deliver.
When I take part in congregational singing, my heart is lifted. I know it’s a supernatural thing because it happens even with songs that I’m not particularly keen on!
Wonders of God’s presence
Marvellous though both of these are, they are eclipsed by something more profound. As we gather together as God’s people, singing God’s praises, He is with us. We cannot manufacture this, nor is the invitation ours (‘Come and join us, Lord’). It is Christian fact. As we gather in His name to do all the things that the gathered people of God do, He is present with us by His Spirit.
This might seem less tangible than looking across the room at others, or filling our lungs to sing His praises. True. But it is no less real. In fact, His presence is the only reason the other two wonders have any impact.
This is the hardest for me to think about. Things you can touch and feel seem more immediate. But the actual presence of God as we gather is the foundational truth that brings joy and delight to the heart of every believer. The old song is a bit cheesy, but it sticks helpfully in my mind: ‘As we are gathered, Jesus is here.’ And it’s not just joy-bringing for me.
We may be missing something
Many of us are gearing up for Christmas. That means evangelistic services, wreath making, carol singing, and all manner of other festivities. They have their place. May the Lord bless this work richly. Yet every seven days, as our churches gather on the first day of the week, there are fountains of joy to experience. We should not underestimate the power of this joyful assembly to impact the lives of others. It’s a wonderful apologetic. It’s a window into those who have believed the good news.
The news is not all bad, you see. Some of it is very good indeed.
To whom can you offer real sacrificial care?
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