WITNESS OF HIS JOY

MEMORISE: Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16 : 11.

READ: LUKE 2: 8 – 10.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

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.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: EZEKIEL 1 – 3.

We are saved to bear witness of God’s goodness in our lives, particularly His power to heal and ability to give peace. God also wants us to be witnesses of His joy. Psalm 16:11 says joy is always available where God is present. But for this truth, how could Paul and Silas be singing in prison ( Acts 16 : 25 – 26 )? In 1975, I went to Kirikiri prisons (Lagos, Nigeria) for the first time together with an elder. There was a young man who was playing the organ and dancing with so much joy that I could not ignore him. “Is he about to be released?” I asked. The elder told me that the boy bagged a life sentence: he had a quarrel with his friend, gave him a slap and the friend fell down and died. He was charged accordingly and sentenced to death but appealed and his sentence was commuted to life. In prison, he met the Lord and discovered that one could be in prison and yet be spiritually free.

Recently, I visited the prison and a man was introduced to me who has been there for 28 years on death row. When every other inmate is sleeping, those on death row will be half awake – listening for the footsteps of the executioners – until 5 a.m. before they can be sure they will still be alive for that day. Imagine living like this for 28 years! While conducting a service for them, he was singing, shouting and clapping that at least God had given him another day. If somebody whose life is filled with lots of suspense can praise God for each day, why should we not praise God more with a full life ahead of us? It is sad that some believers would have to be pushed or virtually compelled to praise God. Are you a proof producer of His joy? We are not expected to be in sorrow like those who don’t know the Lord because we have the joy that they don’t have. The only time some believers will know a measure of happiness is when a good thing happens to them – say they buy a car, receive a promotion, or have a financial breakthrough. But our joy is not dependent on these fading earthly things. A believer who has no dime in his pocket should be like he owns the world and yes he does, as a joint heir with Jesus!

ACTION POINT:

A popular anecdote says, I was complaining I had no shoes until I met a man who had no legs. If you have legs but no shoes, thank God for your legs.