Joy
THE 13th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
The Sovereign Lord has ... sent me to proclaim that the time has come when the Lord will save his people and defeat their enemies. ~ Isaiah 61:1 (part), 2a (GNT)
Paul writes: We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy... ~ 2 Corinthians 1:24 (part) (NLT)
KEY IDEA:
God's salvation and schedule fills us with joy.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Sovereign Lord, for rescuing us from the hold of sin and death. Continue to save me from thinking that I am the source of my salvation -- that if I just work a little harder I will become one of your good and happy people. That burden sucks all the joy out of me. I am going to look to you -- and you alone to fill my life with joy. 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)
