"Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Neh 8:10).
One of the overriding evidences
that someone has a genuine relationship with our living Savior is their
consistent attitude of joy and outlook on life. A follower of Jesus should not
be a person who always looks at life as if the glass is half empty. Instead, we
should be the most positive people on earth. We should see opportunity in the
midst of challenges.
The light that resides in you
should be like the beam of a lighthouse to a ship that is seeking direction.
Our lives should have the fragrance of Christ. People should be attracted to
our lives just as the bee is attracted to the nectar in the colorful flower.
The apostle Paul understood this
when he said, "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal
procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the
knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are
being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death;
to the other, the fragrance of life" (2 Cor 2:14-16).
I must admit I've been with some
believers whose attitude toward life is more like a porcupine. It's painful to
get too close to them because of their negative and poisonous view of life that
criticizes the world around them.
No matter what circumstance you
may find yourself in, the joy of the Lord must be your strength. Paul learned
this truth even in the midst of his adversities. "I have learned the secret
of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,
whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives
me strength (Phil 4:12-13).
How would others describe your joy
quotient? On a scale of 1 to 10, where would they rank you? Today, make a
commitment to greet every circumstance knowing that the joy of the Lord is your
strength.
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