Pursuing Joy

“The God of biblical revelation has a character.  Divine action flows from that character.  God is love and He is light.  Moreover, He is righteous in all His ways… it is only as we grasp the righteous holy loving character of the God who has made us that we can begin to grasp in some measure the depths of the human plight outside Eden.  And it is only against that dark backstory that the glory of the cross of Christ is revealed as the centre of God’s plan to bring shalom.”

~ Graham Cole, God the Peacemaker, p. 52

“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice…” (Psalm 97:1)

“The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble…” (Psalm 99:1)

The Lord is King of all creation.  Holiness is His character and righteousness defines His acts.  His people will both rejoice and tremble at His sovereignty and holiness.  It is not one or the other!  Joy and fear are constant companions in the lives of His saints.