Serve Joy

Have you had your Joy Juice today?  If you share, then you’re a JOY-Giver!

            The story is told of a young believer seeking the advice of a Godly man who had followed Christ for many years.  The young man complained, “I have lost my joy!”   The older, wiser man just shook his head and smiled. “I’ve got just the prescription!  Go out and do something for someone else. Then repeat, repeat, repeat those acts of kindness…until you are in the habit of serving.  THEN you will find JOY!”

            This is what Jesus taught and modeled.  Matthew 20:28 says: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.”

 If we are serious about becoming more like Jesus, then we will follow his example of loving and serving.  When we find ourselves in the habit of serving, we will discover a joy bubbling forth from deep inside us.  Do you know where that joy originates? In the heart of God!

            As Mary Southerland (Girlfriends e-devotional Aug. 14, 2009) so vividly describes: “God stands today, arms open wide, ready to pour out His unspeakable gift of joy into our lives so that we can have joy; so that we can share that joy with others.  Our gift back to Him is to be a joy-giver.  The more you give, the more joy you will experience.  The more joy you have, the more you will want to give---but you cannot out-give God.  He rewards ‘joy-givers’”.

            Share the joy of the Lord with your family, your friends…even strangers! You will receive your reward from the Supreme JOY-GIVER!!!!!!!!!!