Too often in the life of the church, we portray Jesus as putting a blight over the joyful mind. We miss Jesus as 'being the life of the party' as he is often portrayed in the Gospels.
Jesus stated: "I have come that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full. Jesus calls us to be 'the light of the world,' 'the salt of the earth,' and to add zest and flavor to a joyful life.
I am reminded of the day when a very evangelistic man went to worship in a very stately, formal, ritualistic church. As the minister concluded his first point, the man shouted out, "AMEN! HALLELUJAH!"
With that, an usher went to him and informed him that that was not a practice in this church. At the end of the second point the man responded in like manner and again the usher told him that if he shouted out one more time he would be asked to leave. With that, the man replied, "But sir, I've got religion," to which the usher replied, "Yes, but you didn't get it here!"
It's true that we live in a terrifying world. To many, life is hopeless, grim, tension-packed, and a real pain. Yet, inside of us all is the desire to laugh and be joyful. Christ comes to us in our deepest sorrow and says that a person of faith may even dare to laugh. When we can laugh, we embrace hope.
Jesus was a frequent dinner guest. He attended weddings and he knew something about a good wine. He spoke of the Kingdom as comparable to a banquet where everyone is rejoicing. Yes, we can suffer all things, endure all things, and hope for all things, In Christ we have hope and hope gives us the courage to be joyful and live.
Those persons without faith often see life as a drag. They may discover themselves fed up at 15 and fagged out at 50 and not free to really affirm life.
When you are a Christian the whole world is saying, "Show me your joy." In other words, show me your faith, show me your hope, show me your joy.
I recall a news article about a strange want ad that appeared in a London paper. It said: "Wanted by an invalid lady, a housekeeper. She must be a good church woman who is responsible, who can take over the affairs of the whole house. A cheerful Christian, if possible."
I would ask. Is there any other kind? Jesus says. "Truly. I have come that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full. Show me your joy!
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