Smile!

“Always be full of Joy in the Lord. I say it again — Rejoice!”

Philippians 4:4 NLT

“Joy is the serious business of Heaven!”

C.S. Lewis

A Kindergarten teacher was walking around her classroom as her children drew pictures. She noticed one little girl drawing so diligently that she asked her what she was drawing…and the little girl said, “I’m drawing a picture of God.” The teacher said, “Oh Sweetheart, no one knows what God looks like.” Without missing a beat, the little girl said, “They will in a minute!” Whether we know it or not, we are all painting a portrait of the God we love and serve by the way we live our lives. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, Paul is chastising God’s people for painting a portrait of God who wears a frown instead of a smile! He asks them, “Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt [at the beginning]?" (Gal.4:15 NLT)

An ancient theologian, Frances de Sales, said that there is a god in this world who does wear a frown…But it is Not Jesus! He said, “The evil one is pleased with sadness and melancholy because he himself is sad and melancholy and will be so for all eternity; hence he desires that everyone should be like himself.” But God, the God who rules over Heaven and Earth…He wears a Smile! Joy is God’s basic character! Joy is God’s eternal Destiny! And Joy is God’s desire for You! In fact, the Bible puts Joy in the non-option category when the Apostle Paul commands, “Always be full of Joy in the Lord. I say it again — Rejoice!” (Phil.4:4)

And notice...this is Joy of another kind…it is Joy “in the Lord!”

Last week, Pastor Nate taught us that this joy can co-exist with negative emotions and is not affected by circumstances. It is a deep sense of well-being that comes from being in relationship to our God who loves us and has a solution and a capacity for every problem we encounter.

Think about it…where was the Apostle when he spoke these words? He was in prison for talking about Jesus, and chained to a Roman guard….And he was singing! (Acts 16) What was he singing? An old Johnny Cash song?

“I hear that train a comin’

It’s rollin’ ‘round the bend

And I ain’t seen the sunshine

Since, I don’t know when

I’m stuck in Roman prison

And time keeps draggin’ on….yeah!”

No! I don’t think so! We think, “Oh that’s terrible! You’re in a prison chained to a Roman Guard?!”…And Paul smiles and says, “Yup!…I got me a captive audience to share Jesus with!” Joy may be the second fruit of the Spirit, but it may just be the most convincing piece of evidence that Jesus lives in me and in you!

Ask yourself the question: What kind of God does my face say I’m following?

Pastor Harry

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