August 7, 2024

Viewing all things through the lens of the True and the beautiful!

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The True

Pure Joy

Pure joy. What comes to mind when you hear those two words?

The first image that pops into my head is that of a child, running and playing outside. There is something about the innocence of childhood exuberance that evokes the sentiment of pure joy in me. Perhaps it is because, as I reflect on my own life, it was the absence of encumbrances as a child that allowed me to feel as though I had full joy. Even today, the memory of a backyard baseball game with brothers and friends brings a smile to my face.

What about you? Is there an image or a memory that comes to mind? Is your instinct like mine in that it takes you back to a simpler time—a time of less encumbrances? If so, I think that is a normal human tendency. We associate simplicity and ease of circumstance and burdens with feelings of joy.

This instinct, however, is turned on its head a bit in James 1, where it says to, “Consider it pure joy . . . whenever you face trials of many kinds” (Jam. 1:2).

This feels completely wrong to me, and not just in a paradoxical way. It makes sense that challenging times can produces things of value in you and me, but pure joy? To me, pure joy feels like a different category altogether than the positive things produced by struggle—things like grit and resolve and strength of character. Those positive results sound desirable, but they also seem separate and distinct from a feeling of pure joy.

So why does James point to struggle and difficulty as springboards to pure joy? In his own words, it is because they produce perseverance, maturity, wisdom, and, in the end, a crown of life for those who stand the test of time (Jam. 1:3,4,12).

You see, you and I begin with the here and now, and consider first the feelings of the moment. James is starting at the end and working backwards. He is identifying the eternal goal—a crown of life and intimacy with the Lord—as the source of pure joy, and then illuminating the things we will inevitably encounter on the path to that true joy.

If your true joy is entangled with a crown of life, and with offering that crown to others, it will necessitate entangling your here and now with the struggles of this world. It will require a willingness to set aside the care-free nature of temporary ease in exchange for taking up the struggles and the trials associated with the pursuit of eternal freedom—for both yourself and others.

Joy is found in so many things in our Creator’s world—from the beauty of creation to relationship with others and so many other wonderful things. But pure joy is one that lacks nothing, and one that is realized on the other side of struggle.

So this week, revel in the moments of joy that remind you of innocent times. But when you encounter moments of great trial and struggle, consider them with fresh eyes and a renewed spirit, because it is the walking out of your faith in those moments that is leading you to pure joy!

World

A Plea Deal and a Prisoner Swap

It was a monumental week for high-profile prisoner cases.

First, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stepped in to revoke a plea deal reached by the Office of Military Commissions with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) and two of his alleged accomplices. KSM has confessed to masterminding the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. and is linked to a decades-long list of other terror attacks. The plea deal would have taken the death penalty off the table and resolved the case without trial, but after significant backlash from lawmakers, Sec. Austin revoked the plea deal and assumed control of the prosecutorial decisions in the case.

Meanwhile, more than 20 prisoners were exchanged in a swap agreed to between Russia and the U.S. Included in those released by Russia were three high-profile Americans: journalist Evan Gershkovich, businessman Paul Whelan, and journalist Alsu Kurmasheva. Meanwhile, the U.S. and its allies released a number of high-profile—and in many cases violent—convicts. Perhaps most notable is Vadim Krasikov, who was serving a life sentence in Germany for the killing of a Chechen rebel in broad daylight at the behest of the Russian government.

Analysis and eternal perspective: Justice in human terms is an extremely elusive pursuit. The families of those slain on 9/11, in previous terror attacks, or as a result of an order given by a murderous regime will almost certainly never feel totally pacified that justice has been done on this side of eternity. Even so, you and I as Jesus followers are repeatedly exhorted to keep the pursuit of justice among our primary endeavors (Is. 1:17, Mic. 6:8).

This mandate feels impossible if we operate only in terms of earthly resolution of wrongs. While it shocks the conscience that the masterminds of 9/11 were initially offered a plea deal, it is also true that even a conviction and the ultimate sentence of the death penalty would not restore all that was taken. True vengeance and ultimate justice belong only to God in eternity (Rom. 12:19).

As we strive to achieve justice on behalf of the oppressed, and as we celebrate with those who were wrongly held and are now free (Ps. 126), we should also remain ever aware of the incentive structure that occurs when violent convicts are released in exchange for those arbitrarily detained. There is no perfect formula here—I have personal experience with these scenarios in which there is no perfect answer or policy—but when a dictatorial leader like Putin is rewarded for detaining and imprisoning innocent Americans, we can be confident he will do it again.

May we as The Equipped remember that we are as “sheep among wolves,” and we are called to be both “as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matt. 10:16).

World

Global Politcal Unrest

Political unrest has been on the rise around the globe in recent years, and this week included significant flare-ups in both Venezuela and Bangladesh.

In Venezuela, an analysis of the recent presidential election conducted by the Washington Post concluded with near-certainty that President Nicolas Maduro was defeated by a wide margin by opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez. However, even as many world leaders called for Maduro to relinquish power, the Venezuela military and security forces are thus far backing Maduro’s instructions to keep him in power.

In Bangladesh, longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned her post and fled the country as protesters stormed her residence and government buildings. Hundreds are believed to have died in the upheaval.

Analysis and eternal perspective: Psalm 46 provides incredibly specific encouragement as we consider the political upheaval in our world. I encourage you to read the entire chapter, but note these particularly prescient reminders:

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging” (vv. 1-3).

“Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (vv. 6-7).

“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (vv. 10-11).

It is a privilege to call on God to intervene in the affairs of men. Scripture is replete with examples of the faithful who did so (Daniel, Esther, David, and Joseph, just to name a few of many). We are best equipped to step into this call when we walk in full acceptance of God’s sovereignty and a realization that the timing of His displays of power are perfect.

Let it be our goal to call on God’s power, and to be found ready for His service when His power sweeps over the land.

U.S.

Veepstakes

Vice President Kamala Harris recently became the Democrat nominee for President, and now she has selected her vice presidential running mate: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. The selection came just a little more than two weeks after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race, and just a day after Vice President Harris officially secured the nomination. The announcement sets the stage for the November 5, 2024 general election between the Republican ticket of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance and the Democrat ticket of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. There are also several third party or independent candidates, most notably Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has named Nicole Shanahan as his running mate.

Analysis and eternal perspective: It is only the beginning of August. You likely feel as though you have been through an intense election season already—including an attempted assassination and an incumbent withdrawing—and yet there are still three months of campaign season remaining.

As you work to be an ambassador of Jesus in tumultuous political times, continue to remind yourself:

1) You were created to be free (Gal. 5:1).

2) You are invited to seek the flourishing of your community, even amid brokenness (Jer. 29:7).

3) You embody Jesus when you speak truth in love (Eph. 4:15).

4) Your trust is not in a government formed by men, but in the name of the most high God (Ps. 20:7).

The Beautiful

No Limits or Measure

As you set your hands to the tasks of this week, your heavenly Father holds you close and guides you in the beauty of His ways. In the words of James 4:6, “He gives us more grace.”

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

- Annie Johnson Flint