The world is always looking at us "Christians". Do you realize that once that label is put on you every word, action, and even attitude that you reflect within every sphere of life is going to be held up against your faith. The way we live reflects who we are and the world is watching. Kind of a scary thought if you ask me. How do we, redeemed spiritually but still trapped in these earthly bodies, Christians mirror Him in every aspect of life ALL the time?
A mark that we should have that distinguishes us from the rest of the world is joy! We should be joyful always. Whether that means a smile on our face, a contented heart during trial, or a hopeful outlook on what seems like hopelessness, if the world labeled us as Christians and joyful ones at that how radical would that be. Christianity would be attractive! People would want to find out how they too can have the joy of the Lord no matter what is going on in their life.
The word "joy" is used in the Bible over 150 times. Here are just a few of those:
Psa 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
Psa 33:1 Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright.
Psa 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Luk 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
The angels brought tidings of joy when that announced the birth of Christ.
Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
It is often easy to be joyous or to find joy when things are going good in our lives or when we are "on top" or when there aren't trials, pain, sufferings etc. But what about when we've had a bad day? Lost a loved one? Been persecuted? Been slandered? Hurt? Or whatever the case might be....we still are commanded to have joy. How can we have joy in these times? When tragedy strikes how can we be joyous...it goes against our natural tendencies, our natural innate desires and flesh...but look at these verses:
James 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials
1 Peter 1:6-8 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.
Consider it joy when we go through trials? What?!!?! That would be the response of the world. But we are promised that these trials are refining us, making us more and more into the image of Christ and that is exciting!! We have to be tried and tested to produce the genuineness of our faith. Now this joy does not mean necessarily that there won't be hurt and there won't be tears but it means that there is something more than that...that we find joy in our future hope and hold firm to that.
We as Christians have to be holy, set apart, different...and finding joy no matter what is a great way to show the world where we find our happiness (not in things or people but in a Holy God who saved us)!
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