The Face That's Seen!

This past Friday, as I was exiting our post office, I stopped and held the door for an older couple who were on their way in. When the woman saw me peaking around the door as she entered, she said, “Oh, you’re the jolly walker. That’s what we call you.” I assumed the “we” was her and her husband. As I smiled a greeting to her she went on to say, “And you are jolly.”

We may be called various things depending on how others perceive our life. Some of those labels may be complimentary while others may not. When it comes to our Christianity, what kind of face do we put on it. Could we be labeled as a “Stoic Christian” (always serious and straight faced), a “Sourpuss Christian” (leaving the impression Christianity means you can’t have any fun), a “Snobbish Christian” (always displaying a “holier than thou” attitude), or a “JOYFUL Christian” (radiating a sense of joyful hope regardless of the challenges of life)? Is our manner of walking in life making the HOPE AND JOY of Christianity believable?

Peter wrote…
“(3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be BORN AGAIN TO A LIVING HOPE through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, (5) who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (6) In this you REJOICE, though now for a little while, as was necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, (7) so that the tested GENUINENESS OF YOUR FAITH -- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire -- may be found to RESULT IN PRAISE AND GLORY AND HONOR at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (8) Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you BELIEVE IN HIM AND REJOICE WITH JOY THAT IS INEXPRESSIBLE and filled with glory, (9) obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” ( 1 Peter 1:3-9 ESV)

A LIVING HOPE! Genuine faith that causes us to REJOICE even in trials. Verse six in the New Living Translation begins “So be TRULY GLAD” and in verse eight reads “even now you are HAPPY WITH A GLORIOUS, INEXPRESSIBLE JOY.” Are we living such that this is the face we put on our Christianity? May the JOY of genuine Christian faith be evident in our daily life.

Have a great day KEEPING UP A HAPPY FAITH!
Carl

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