Take a peek inside the Scriptures and see:
When a pregnant Mary shows up and says hello, a very pregnant Elizabeth exclaims, “As soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for…joy” (Luke 1: 44).
Wise men, from afar, charted the sky and labored for miles in order to see the One to whom the star pointed. When they saw that the star had stopped over the place where the child was, they were overwhelmed with…joy” (Matt. 2: 10).
Jesus who, for the sake of the [you guessed it:] joy set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame…has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).
Joy. Really? Joy? A would-be John the Baptist leaps for joy? What’s to celebrate in the water of a womb? The Magi…joyous? They hadn’t met Jesus. All they knew was the demands of the journey. Finally, Jesus joyous despite a coming crucifixion?
“Come on,” we reason. “This joy thing seems a bit disjointed, don’t you think?” It is…unless the experience of joy is more than momentary. Indeed, biblical joy throws a premature party because it anticipates the unfolding of a future plan. Joy leaps—not because it leans on the right now, but on the right ultimately. Joy makes way. It prepares the place for…another occupant…a greater plan…a later revelation…a bigger story.
A Christian is just that: One who—in everything—prepares room for joy.
If Jesus is who says he is and he did what he said he’d do; if he goes to prepare a place for us so that wherever he is, we may be also, there’s only one thing we can do if we take him seriously: Get busy preparing a place for others, so that wherever we are, there Jesus may be as well.
The Christian life, therefore, creates a space for a Savior to be seen and whenever Jesus shows up, joy quickly follows. Behold the above scriptures: In every instance, the possession of joy is preceded by the practice of generosity—a generosity of time, of testimony, of treasures, of life.
Friends, this letter serves a two-fold function: Celebration and invitation. Do something with me just for a second: Look further down this page and celebrate the transformation of people due to the preparation of places. Next, I want to follow the celebration with an invitation to take part—to aid our efforts in continuing to prepare places whereby others can glimpse the power of God and experience joy. It’s too easy to assume that our mission is to get people to wherever the church is. That’s not the point at all. Our mission, rather, is to be the church wherever people are! Given that, you’re not a church attendee; you’re a place preparer for The Person the world hungers to meet (Jesus), to get what only He has to offer: joy.
Below is a digital commitment card (a physical card may have been mailed to you). Bathe it in prayer. Consider all the saints—past and present—who played a part in preparing a place for you to know the goodness of the Gospel and the grace of Christ Jesus. Next, mail in your commitment card, fill out the digital form below, or you might also consider systematic contributions through our secure, in-house online giving feature. If you would like a physical card and did not receive one, please call the church office at 304-242-2455. Please mail it to Christ United Methodist Church, 1232 National Rd., Wheeling, WV 26003 in the care of Belinda Austen, our Financial Secretary.
We’re building a current and future generation of Jesus followers. Come and see! Give and live!
