IN CHRIST'S PRESENCE IS FULNESS OF JOY

"Wherefore look ye so sadly to-day?" -Genesis 40:7 [KJV]

A sympathizing spirit at all times becomes Christians. They are called “to rejoice with them who do rejoice, and to weep with them who weep” (Romans 12:15.) Joseph could not observe the sad looks of his fellow prisoners, without inquiring the cause. They said, “We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter for it.” Mind the use Joseph made of the distress. He refers them to the Lord. “Do not interpretations belong unto God?” O may the Lord help us to make some improvement of this. 

Consider, (1st.) Christians are all fellow prisoners in a body of sin and death. 

(2d.) We are all subject, at one time or another, to have cause for sad looks. 

(3d.) We should imitate Joseph. Be of a sympathizing spirit. Feel for one another’s distress. Inquire the cause of our brethren’s sad looks. 

(4th.) As he did, so we should refer to the Lord. Aim, as enabled by the Lord, to speak a word in season, that if the Lord please, we may be interpreters to them, of God’s mind concerning them; may be a means of unriddling the dark and perplexing schemes of Providence, of unfolding the mysteries of godliness to them. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ (see Galatians 6:2.) Consider you are under the law of Christ. This is a law of love. O what a blessing doth the Lord make one Christian to another. How often are we enabled to solve each other’s difficulties, and made a mean of setting each other’s souls at liberty? 

But, (5th.) Consider Joseph as a type of our dear Saviour. We cannot look sadly, but His eye of compassion is upon us, His heart of love is towards us. “For we have not an high-priest who cannot be touched with a feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are” (Hebrews 4:15.) To one disciple in distress He saith, “Wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matthew 14:31.) To others, “Why are ye troubled? Why do thoughts arise in your hearts?” (Luke 24:38.) 

To another, a sorrowful woman, “Why weepest thou?” (John 20:15.) Think of His loving heart and tender speeches to sinners. Carry your cases of conscience to Him, and spread the causes of your sadness before Him. He is a blessed messenger of peace; precious interpreter of the ways of God to our souls (Job 33:23.) He will shew us the path of life. “In His presence is fulness of joy, at His right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” -Psalm 16:11

 

My heart is pain’d, my face is sad, 

Thy absence, Lord, I mourn: 

Thy presence doth my soul make glad: 

Return, my Lord, return. 

My sins and follies I confess, 

The cause of all my woe: 

I plead Thy blood and righteousness; 

Thro’ them let comfort flow.

 

-preacher Wm. Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)

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