Seek true joy (2)

Fred and Betty were driving home from church. 'Fred, did you notice the sermon wasn't up to scratch today?' Fred replied, 'No, not really.' Betty continued, 'Well, did you notice that the worship was flat?' He responded, 'I didn't.' Undaunted, Betty continued, 'Well, you must have noticed that young family right in front of us. They ruined the whole service with their noise!' 'Sorry dear, I didn't notice'. In disgust Betty finally puffs, 'Honestly, Fred, I don't know why you even bother going to church!'

Why do some churchgoers think it's their job to judge the church? When Paul writes, 'Come out from them and be separate' (2 Corinthians 6:17 NIV), he's saying our faith should make us different - not negatively, but positively, different! Unless we commit ourselves to walking in the joy of the Lord, we will find negative ways of separating ourselves from non-believers.

Let's think about who we represent. Jesus calls himself 'the good shepherd' (John 10:11 NIV). 'Good'. His goodness is a powerful attracting force that wins people's hearts. Does that describe us? It should! Paul writes, 'Rejoice in the Lord always' (Philippians 4:4 NIV). When he wrote those words he was in prison with no chance of getting out! Happiness is an emotion, but joy is a fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5.22 NIV). And any time, anywhere, it is available to us.

So what now? Each morning get up and say, 'Today I will go out with joy, because God's word demands it and a hurting world needs it!'

— SCRIPTURE —

'You will go out in joy.' Isaiah 55:12 NIV
— SOULFOOD —

1 Ki 3:4-14, Pro 2:1-5, Jam 1:2-8