Justin Joseph

An unworthy, ordinary saint/sinner on mission to encourage his weary brothers and sisters to rest in The worthy Christ and The extraordinary Gospel.

[Justin Joseph @ReclaimingRest]

Believers often say 'live to please God, not man.' Problem: sinners can't please God. They should rather say 'be who you are in Christ,' keeping The Savior in the foreground. Christ pleased God FOR us. If you're in Christ, God IS pleased with you. That can't increase or decrease.

[Justin Joseph @ReclaimingRest]

Palm branches were emblematic of rejoicing. Victory. Righteousness. Spirituality.

Many met Jesus with them, though they didn't believe. (John 12:12-13, cf. Psalm 118)

Yet all the saints will worship him with them in-hand. (Revelation 7:9-10)

Brothers and sisters, including us.

[Justin Joseph @ReclaimingRest]

@espinoza_dy @MitchellSheten1 Good call :)

[Justin Joseph @ReclaimingRest]

Brothers and sisters...

Our egos are a constant issue.

May God's law humble us.

Also...

Assurance for many is a constant issue.

May The Gospel lift us up.

Only in Christianity can those things happen.

And I pray that they do, constantly.

In the end, God will exalt us.

[Justin Joseph @ReclaimingRest]

"...a noble thing..."

Jesus described Mary's anointing of him that way.

"...in memory of her..."

Jesus prophesied that her deed would be retold wherever The Gospel is proclaimed.

Precious sisters in Christ, I hope and pray that you're at all aware of your value to the church.

[Justin Joseph @ReclaimingRest]

Judas was hypocritical toward Mary. (John 12:5-6)

The other disciples, indignant. (Matthew 26:8, Mark 14:4)

Jesus?

Neither.

And his perspective was ultimate.

He rebuked them for bothering Mary, whom he commended.

Rightly so.

Dear brothers and sisters, he also commends us.

[Justin Joseph @ReclaimingRest]

Counterfeit piety is sadly commonplace among Christians.

And no matter what it masks, it inevitably harms others.

How?

Discouragement.

Exhaustion.

A sense of inadequacy.

Brothers and sisters, take heart.

Jesus seeks only to encourage and give rest, and is our sufficiency.

[Justin Joseph @ReclaimingRest]

The wicked hate the righteous.

Or, those saved by the grace of God.

Case in point: Judas in relation to Mary.

The former was hard of heart and full of greed.

The latter loved and was generous.

Grace saves, then transforms.

It's critical to understand that biblical dynamic.

[Justin Joseph @ReclaimingRest]

Repentance and devotion.

That is why 'a woman in the town' anointed and wiped Jesus' feet with her hair. (Luke 7)

Worship and preparation.

That is why Mary anointed and wiped Jesus' feet with her hair. (John 12)

Brothers and sisters, both were saved by grace.

As were we.

[Justin Joseph @ReclaimingRest]

Caiaphas, high priest and unbeliever, "prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to unite the scattered children of God." (John 11:51-52)

Brothers and sisters, our Father encourages even with the mouths of those who hate Him.

[Justin Joseph @ReclaimingRest]

Brothers, sisters: let us not try to mask our weakness.

We might fool others, but never our Father.

And besides, what is the benefit of fooling someone?

Nothing.

We actually benefit by not pretending, and are better positioned to love.

Embracing that can only result in good.

[Justin Joseph @ReclaimingRest]

@espinoza_dy @tulipsandroses0 Amen :) If only many more folks shared your reaction. It's commonly believed that God forgives because one repents. What a shame to point Christians inward, and not to Christ.

[Justin Joseph @ReclaimingRest]

God doesn't forgive because someone repents.

Someone repents because he/she is forgiven by God.

He forgives someone because Jesus died for him/her.

[Justin Joseph @ReclaimingRest]

Samson especially stands out to me as proof that God uses people in spite of them.

Why especially?

Because he's mentioned in Hebrews 11.

Brothers and sisters, we will fellowship with Samson in the new creation.

And we will all be there for the same reason he will be.

Grace.

[Justin Joseph @ReclaimingRest]

Exodus 34:6-7
Psalm 145:8
Isaiah 30:18a
Romans 3:24
1 Corinthians 1:4
Ephesians 2:8, 4:7
Titus 2:11

Brothers and sisters, it is good to be strengthened by grace.

The Scripture references above represent a small sampling of that.

Christianity is uniquely of grace upon grace.

[Justin Joseph @ReclaimingRest]

It's foolish to believe that only women are 'emotional.'

"If The LORD had intended to kill us, He wouldn’t have accepted the burnt offering and the grain offering from us, and He would not have shown us all these things or spoken to us like this."

- Manoah's wife, Judges 13:23

[Justin Joseph @ReclaimingRest]

"Mercy Tree" (3)

Hope went dark that violent day
The whole earth quaked at love's display
Three days silent in the ground
This body born for heaven's crown
On that bright and glorious day
When heaven opened up the grave
He's alive and risen indeed!
Praise Him for the mercy tree!