Fullness of Joy

Instead of posting in the comments to Tim's previous post, The Emptiness of Mere Success, I would like to share this quote here.

The Gospel teaches us that what truly satisfies is not what we can accomplish by our own strength but what Someone else has accomplished for us. This is contrary to the wisdom of men. Men (yes, and women), generally, want to accomplish and achieve things. Tom Brady says that he feels that "there's something out there greater for me". Whether or not the wording of this statement was intentional I can't say, but he got the last part correct. There is something out there greater for him. I appreciate those who have caught on to this and have been encouraging us to pray for the salvation of Tom Brady. This is a worthy cause.

• Tom Ascol - Tom Brady, your questions have answers
• Tom Ascol - Pray for Tom Brady (see especially the quote from S. Rutherford provided by Nathan White in the comments)
  
• Tony Reinke - Tom Brady, Super Bowl Rings, and Ecclesiastes
• Tim Challies - Tom Brady on Emptiness
  
• AJ Gibson - The Emptiness of Life Without God
• Tim Aschraft - The Emptiness of Mere Success
  

This morning I picked up my review copy of the Letters of Thomas Chalmers (BOT: 2007) and read a few more selections. The letters I read were an exchange between Dr Chalmers and a close friend named Thomas Smith. Smith had been seeking Chalmers' help with questions about his faith and, in one letter, had hinted toward his need form further spiritual reform. Chalmers responded with the following statement that I found to be very helpful, even to me. Maybe it will be a timely word of exhortation to you too.

...will you permit me further to say, that the effect of all your doings would be hurtful did the consciousness of them go to wean you from dependence on Christ, or turn your eye from Him as all your desire and all your salvation? Go joyfully to God in His name; follow closely in the path of His example; feel your need of His Spirit in every enterprise; have no doubt of your forgiveness through the merits of His blood, coupling with faith in this one testimony, the acceptance of every one saying about the necessity of holiness and self-denial, and the mortification of all that is sinful, and the adornment of the whole man with the graces of the Spirit, and the dedication of the whole life to the will of Him who poured out His soul unto death for you. (p.19)

Even Christians, as this young man confessed, can easily find themselves in a state of emptiness if they look to the works of their hands alone. Let us not forget the source of our fullness, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yes, we are weak, but He is strong. Abraham learned this ever so slowly as he followed God away from home and throughout his days of sojourning. David learned this as he sought to execute his royal responsibilities. Jesus' disciples learned this as they followed and learned from Him. One of the psalms from my reading this week captures this, too.

Psalm 16:8-11

שויתי יהוה לנגדי תמיד
כי מימיני בל אמוט׃

I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

לכן שמח לבי ויגל כבודי
אף בשרי ישכן לבטח׃

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being* rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.

כי לא תעזב נפשי לשאול
לא תתן חסידך לראות שחת׃

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol**,
or let your holy one see corruption.

תודיעני ארח חיים
שבע שמחות את פניך
נעמות בימינך נצח׃

You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy***;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (ESV)

____________________
Notes:
* כבוי alt. mss. glory; LXX tongue
**שאול grave or the abode of the dead.
*** A literal translation would be Satisfying rejoicings are in your presence.

Fullness of Joy