Have you heard the joyful sound? Do you know joy from that sound?

In the 10^th century B.C. the psalmist heard the sound and wrote:

Psalms 89:¹⁵Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.

In 1882 Priscilla Owens heard the sound and wrote:

1. We have heard the joyful sound: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
   Spread the tidings all around: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
   Bear the news to every land, Climb the steep, cross the waves;
   Onward! ’tis our Lord’s command; Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

2. Waft it on the rolling tide: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
   Tell to sinners far and wide: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
   Sing, you islands of the sea; Echo back, you ocean caves;
   Earth shall keep her jubilee: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

3. Sing above the battle strife: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
   By His death and endless life Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
   Shout it brightly through the gloom, When the heart for mercy craves;
   Sing in triumph o’er the tomb: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

4. Give the winds a mighty voice: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
   Let the nations now rejoice: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
   Shout salvation full and free; Highest hills and deepest caves;
   This our song of victory: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

When the Son of God, Jesus, limited Himself to a human body, a time in history and a geographical location, He said:

John 12:⁴⁶ I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

⁴⁷And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

John 3:¹⁴And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

¹⁵That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

¹⁷For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

¹⁸He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

What a sound for joy!

It matters not what we have done.

It matters not how we have sinned against God.

It matters not who we are.

The joyful sound is that God loves you so much He gave His only Son to pay the penalty for all your sins. You can be forgiven. You can have a relationship with God, your Creator. You can be destined for heaven.

We have heard the joyful sound; Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

How will you respond to that sound?

Our focus = Hebrews 12:¹Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our challenge = Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through  you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti