For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.–Romans 14:17
The furrowed brow, the frown, the fretting over petty things, the fussing about our trials, and the feuding among ourselves make a terrible impression on others. Sometimes we act as though God is dead or mighty sick, and unable or unwilling to help us. Unbelievers conclude that if this is Christianity they want no part of it. Can you blame them? Christians need to realize that sometimes a smile is better than a sermon,that our life is more important than a lecture, that our attitude can be of greater value than our actions. What we are speaks louder than what we say. Concerning the importance of joy, A. W. Tozer left us this good advice:
“The Christian owes it to the world to be supernaturally joyful. In this day of universal apprehension when men’s hearts are failing them for fear of those things that are coming upon the earth, we Christians are strategically placed to display a happiness that is not of this world and to exhibit a tranquillity that will be a little bit of heaven here below. All this takes for granted that sin has been dealt with by sincere repentance and thorough amendment of life. It assumes that we are walking in the light of truth, for true joy cannot be artificially induced. The “keep smiling” school of applied psychology is not even remotely related to the true faith of Christ. The chief fun of the comedian and the good humor of the wit who is the life of the party are like flowers growing on old graves, briefly interesting, but evanescent and always touched with sadness. But the fountain of Christian joy flows out from the throne of God, pure, refreshing and sweet everlastingly.”
