Joy
But someday you will hear happy voices and the sounds of parties and wedding celebrations. And when people come to my temple to offer sacrifices to thank me, you will hear them say:
“We praise you,
Lord All-Powerful!
You are good to us,
and your love never fails.” ~ Jeremiah 33:10b-11a (CEV)
John the Baptist said: At a wedding the groom is the one who gets married. The best man is glad just to be there and to hear the groom’s voice. That’s why I am so glad. ~ John 3:29 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
Sad days don't last so we should point to the source of joy -- Jesus.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Lord, for the love that never fails. You are my source of happiness. Forgive me for choosing to be stuck in the sadness that comes with doing my own thing without you. I need to be reminded of you faithful love. I'm going to focus on your goodness rather than the badness in the world. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
