Scripture

I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete.

~John 15:11, NET

Quote

“The surest mark of a Christian is not faith, or even love, but joy.”

~Samuel Shoemaker

I read six or seven devotionals each day and when a subject comes up more than once, I figure God is trying to tell me something. The other day JOY came up more than once. I was unfamiliar with Samuel Shoemaker but he is another writer of the Anglican pursuasion. We know them today as Episcopalians. We had one student in seminary from the Episcopal church. He played basketball with us and no one wanted to guard him. He always had liquor on his breath, so we called him a “Whiskcopalian”.  I digressed as usual. Billy Sunday said, “If you have no joy in your Christianity, there is a leak somewhere.” Every blood bought believer should have joy and a joyless Christian is an anomaly. Oswald Chambers correctly observed, “Joy is the great note all through the Bible.” I guess he meant JOY is middle C. Every tune revovles around middle C on the keyboard. C.S. Lewis echoed this same sentiment, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.” Jesus said, “There is joy in heaven every time a sinner repents.” Solomon said in Proverbs 17, “A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul. But the one whose heart is crushed struggles with sickness and depression.” I believe he was right, the absence of joy can cause depression.

Why is it that some professed believers are caustic, critical and sarcastic. They find fault with everything and nothing seems to please them. Greet them with a smile and say, “My, my what a beautiful day,” and they respond with a frown and a note of pessimism, “Yes, but it is raining somewhere.” What kind of witness is does an unhappy believer have? Not a very good one. You need cheer to cheer someone up. Joy is attractive and it is in short supply. Remember, the people who you bump into today may need encouragement: give them a little heaven instead of giving them hell. I heard a young man say Monday that Donald Trump is going to hell. I wonder how he can be so certain. I pray for Trump and all his family. I don’t think he nor any member of his family are beyond the reach of grace. I don’t know about you, but I avoid curmudgeons and cranks for the same reason I avoid the nightly news. Dealing with Jack is difficult enough, I don’t need their caustic sarcasm and bitterness. We all have a tendency to be negative because it takes less energy and effort, but my prayer is that I can encourage someone today.

Extra

You have probably never heard me say it before but I am actually thankful that we did get another rain yesterday. The yard and the trees are fine but the garden is on the verse of drowning. At least this morning, there is no water standing in the middles. It does look like more rain today. I know, I will be crying for rain in a few weeks. Too much rain beat a drought.

Another jam packed Wednesday schedule. Grace Point family we are in book IV, chapter 5 tonight… The Obstinate Toy Soldiers. It is excellent. Read and reread this chapter.

I hope you have a great day and thanks for reading the blog.