What a difference a Smile makes!
So often we
hear of how a simple smile “made” someone’s day. Our smiles can reflect happiness in a moment,
or true joy coming from within our hearts.
The
question here is not whether you have that perfect smile - rather - is your
smile reflecting momentarily happiness or a heart full of joy?
So, what is
the difference between Happiness and Joy?
Here are some
really great verses about true joy: [Psa 32:1-11 NLT]
1
A psalm of David.
Oh,
what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of
sight! 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt,
whose lives are lived in complete honesty! 3 When I refused to confess my sin,
my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. 4 Day and night your hand of
discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer
heat. Interlude
5
Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I
said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the LORD." And you
forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude
6
Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they
may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
7
For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with
songs of victory. Interlude
8
The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I
will advise you and watch over you. 9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control." 10 Many sorrows
come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD.
11
So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all
you whose hearts are pure!
What is joy? What does it mean to be full of joy?
According
to these verses joy comes through repentance and forgiveness. David is writing here about admitting his
sins and accepting forgiveness from God.
If you are
like me, we tend to think that men in the Bible, the “Holy Saints”, were
without sin. But they were completely
human, just like us, and had real sin in their lives. David had committed adultery and murder, and
God forgave him. He experienced complete
joy through the Lord. Forgiveness brings a peace and a deep joy.
Where can joy be found? How do we get some?
According to verse 1 the freedom of forgiveness and security of
salvation brings joy!
God has
freed us from sin through Christ’s death and resurrection, which was the payment
of sin, and therefore God extends forgiveness to us. The debt of sin (which is
death) was paid through Christ. We
have been redeemed and saved from eternal death (aka eternal separation from God).
We can find complete, utter joy in that thought alone.
Also (as
if the former isn’t enough to bring deep joy), in verse 7 the safety and
protection of our Lord is another wonderfully joy filled thought. We have a hiding place, and we are
protected! Not only are we
protected, but we are surrounded with songs of Victory!!! We are on the winning team!
Who has joy?
According to verse 2 those who are saved, who claim his forgiveness,
and whose lives are lived in complete honesty have joy. There is such freedom and joy in the simple
act of being honest. Because - there is
nothing to hide!
Does your smile truly reflect the love of Christ? A freedom in life
because you have been freed from sin and are living an honest life?
According to Philippians 4:4-7, we are to rejoice and be joyful always!
[Phl
4:4-7 NLT] 4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again--rejoice! 5 Let
everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is
coming soon. 6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell
God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will
experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace
will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
We are to
be praying and giving everything over to God and not worrying. Tell Him what
you need and thank Him for what he has done, and then you will have God’s
peace. This peace is beyond human
understanding, yet through that peace you will experience complete joy.
You may
wonder how you can have such peace or such joy.
Back to Psalm 32 verses 3-5 it explains: [Psa
32:3-5 NLT]
3
When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day
long. 4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength
evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude
5
Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I
said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the LORD." And you
forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude
Peace and
joy simply come through repentance and belief.
You will be freed from guilt! In John 15:9-15 through obedience to the
father, remaining in Christ’s love, we will be filled with Christ’s joy, it
will overflow!
In Jesus Christ’s words: [Jhn 15:9-15 NLT]
9
"I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10
When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my
Father's commandments and remain in his love.
11
I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your
joy will overflow!
12
This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13
There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. 14 You
are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves,
because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I
have told you everything the Father told me.
What
AMAZING love he exampled for us, and extends to us!
Here are some
great verses to read and meditate on the next few weeks:
· Psalm 8
· Psalm 8
All scripture quoted in
this blog was taken from: https://www.blueletterbible.org/ and is in the New
International Version of the Bible.
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