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VIETNAMESE
ARTICLES
01 May 2009
A Joyful Heart (Part 5)
To have a joyful heart, you need the Lord Jesus
Christ to save you and make you free from the bondage of sins and self.
Next, you need His power to help you rejoice in all unfavorable
situations, knowing that the Lord is able to make all things work
together for your good (Rom 8:28).
Religious leaders in this world may give good
teachings or ethics such as: never let your heart be troubled, be
contented, sacrifice and deny yourself, keep your heart peaceful, look
at the poor and not at the rich, have concern for others, etc., but they
themselves and their followers do not have power to live according to
good teachings. The Lord Jesus rebuked those who outwardly appear good
and holy but inwardly full of hypocrisy and sins, “Even so ye also
outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy
and iniquity” (Matt 23:28). The Apostle Paul sincerely shared his
experience of failure, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,)
dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to
perform that which is good I find not” (Rom 7:18). Perhaps you also
have a desire to do good things and live a holy, peaceful and happy
life, but when you encounter unfavorable situations, difficulties,
temptations, opposition or criticism, you find out that you do not have
power to live a holy life or to keep your heart peaceful and joyful.
Dear friends, the Lord Jesus gives you not only
good teachings but also His power to live according to His teachings.
Truly, you may be “strengthened with all might, according to his
glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness”
(Col 1:11). God’s children live in this world and still encounter
difficulties, trials, temptations, opposition, criticism, etc., but they
can endure all things with joy by the Lord’s glorious power, even
“rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name”
(Acts 5:41). You and I really need the Lord and His power all the
time. Please read our next article.
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