Joy and Pain. Sunshine and Rain.

It Takes Two

If you’re the right age, you remember the rap duo Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock. They were close to a one hit wonder – that one hit being It Takes Two.

There release was a hit, but even if you never heard their song, you probably heard the hook (whoo! yeah!) in tons of other songs in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

Their 2nd hit was Joy and Pain (Sunshine and Rain). Rob Base and E-Z Rock actually lifted the chorus off of Maze and Frankie Beverly from the early 80’s. The point of the chorus (Joy and Pain) really was nothing more than a great hook.

Looking back at the song, it’s so much more than a great hook.

For JOY

Yesterday (Easter 2015), this thought kept running through my head:

…Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame…  -Hebrews 12:2

Joy. Jesus endured pain because there was joy at the end. He could see it. No one else was able to grasp it, but He was more than aware how the anguish He experienced was about a greater cause.

JOY for sons and daughters.

That cause was us. His joy was to see us as heirs with Him. He saw His pain provided a way for us to be called sons and daughters of the Father. It was worth it to Him because we are His creation. As His creation, we are His JOY.

Be free today in this knowledge. Be free knowing Jesus took JOY in knowing you would be called His brother, His sister. There was no shame for Him, so now there is no shame for you.

Be free.