Our Pursuit of His Presence   

   Part 1   

   Remember our introduction, two weeks ago? People filing out of church, looking more like they had been to the dentist? Color me guilty.

   Remember King David disrobing, leaping and dancing for joy along the road as they carried the ark of God to Jerusalem? To his mortified wife, Michal, David said, "I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this..." And Michal never bore children. 2 Sam. 6.

   We've seen joyful fellow saints. Others of us sit there like it's a lecture on moon rocks. (Granted, nothing wrong with being still, knowing that the Rock is Lord). 

   Okay. There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. Eccl. 3:4. We'll leap and dance when our Lord returns.

   Until that glorious appearing, He offers the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5), including joy. Like other fruit, joy is a gift from God. It's called, the joy of the Lord.

   We can't conjure up the fruit. So...?

   God chooses to dwell by the Spirit within human hearts - not rocks - as we believe, repent and live by faith in Christ. Our hearts are reserved for God alone. Jesus went to the heart of the matter; see Matt. 16:24-25.

   If we don't harden our hearts (Ps. 95; Heb. 3 & 6), we already are and remain citizens of the Kingdom.

   Joy!   😇

   The more we pursue him, the more we gladly deny ourselves, accept suffering if it comes, and follow him, knowing him and the fruit He provides.

   You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. 

Ps. 16:11

by David, the king who danced for joy