For the past three days, I have been typing on my laptop computer without the use of the "j" key. The small mechanism that is pushed down when a finger strikes the "j" key is still intact, so I am able to type j's when needed (though it must be done far more deliberately).
How did I lose my "j" key, you ask? I was sitting on the couch at home doing some work on Monday evening when Louis, our 105-pound Yellow Lab decided he wanted to sit on top of me (Louis thinks he's an eight-pound lap dog). Since the laptop was resting on my lap (hence the name), one of Louis' rather large paws raked across the keyboard, taking out the "j" key in the process.
Looking on the bright side, if Louis absolutely had to take out one letter, "j" was a good choice. I have been surprised how infrequently the letter "j" is used when compared to other letters in the alphabet. Still, I got to thinking about some of the words we couldn't say or write without the use of the great letter "j."
Here are just a few to consider:
Joy
The inexpressible result of salvation in Christ
"May the God of hope fill you with all JOY and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." (Romans 15:13, ESV)
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace..." (Galatians 5:22, ESV)
"Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with JOYthat is inexpressible and filled with glory..." (1 Peter 1:8, ESV)
Justified
To be regarded as innocent
"Therefore, since we have been JUSTIFIED by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1, ESV)
"Since, therefore, we have now been JUSTIFIED by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God." (Romans 5:9, ESV)
"You see that a person is JUSTIFIED by works and not by faith alone." (James 2:24, ESV)
Jesus
King of kings, Lord of lords; the Son of God and Savior of mankind
"Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this JESUS whom you crucified." (Acts 2:36, ESV)
"But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely JESUS, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering." (Hebrews 2:9-10, ESV)
"My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, JESUS Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:1-2, ESV)
Aren't you glad we have the letter "j"?
r2
