Joy/No Joy? - June 17, 2009

Good Wednesday morning! Peace, joy, and love to you on this fine morning. Does writing it down automatically make peace, joy, and love flow out to you from me? We send words to each other through speaking, writing, and even through expressions. However, we must have agreement in our forms of communication or we will stop the message. If I say "peace to you" with a growl in my voice and a frown on my face, you probably won't feel much peace flowing from me. One of the favorite excuses used in the military was the phrase "with all due respect". That phrase was supposedly some sort of free pass to criticize an officer. I never tried it out and for that I am glad. I think that saying, "Sir, with all due respect, you are a moron," would probably not prevent a disciplinary action. You could try that with the judge too: "Your honor, I did say 'with all due respect' first." Judge: "Uh huh, with all due respect, 60 days in the brig!"

Even a smile with kind words can be undone if someone looks into your eyes and sees no connection there. People can practice a smile until it appears on their face automatically; actors and models do it as a part of their job. You will not have a good witness if the good news coming out of your mouth clashes with the thought in your heart that you don't even like people, much less love them. The good news of Jesus must be in all of our person. Jesus wants our all. Imagine that you are enjoying heaven, but your big toe was condemned to hell. Wouldn't the pain kind of ruin your experience of heaven?

Two conditions were set down for our salvation - believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths. Some of us have a lot of belief in our hearts, but tend to keep our mouths shut; others have little belief and lots of talk. Before we go condemning our selves or each other, there is a person who is much worse: those who have no intention of believing in their hearts and speak with a voice like an angel's. If you don't believe or speak enough, remember that God will complete his work in you. For those who set out to deceive there is little hope.

Trust in God, live in Christ, and feel the joy!

Bucky