Lighten Up

In my short 19 years of life on this earth, I've met quite a few interesting people. And of these interesting people, some flat out frustrate me.

It's the Christians who can't smile.

And boy, have I met them. In boatloads. It's the kind that proclaims the joys of Christ with a stale face. It's the kind that lives out the quote, "Start every day off with a smile and get it over with." (W.C. Fields) It's the kind that sings "Joyful, Joyful" with a monotone voice that would scare children.

I just don't get these people. Once you're touched by the love and mercy of God despite your sin, how could you not overflow with endless joy and passion? Furthermore, what person in their right mind would look at someone who lives in this lackluster way and say to themselves, "I want that."?

Lately, I've been reading a book called "Don't Waste Your Life," by John Piper. I haven't even finished it, and it is one of the most legitsauce books I've ever had the pleasure of coming across.  The main point of the book is that the only life not wasted is the life lived in pursuit of the glory and magnification of Christ. And, to quote Mr. Piper, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him." He also goes on to say, "The essence of praising Christ is prizing Christ."

Well, it makes sense, doesn't it?

The God who created us to be in relationship with Him is obviously looking for joyful submission to His plan of life. To put it as relevantly as possible, God wants our life of obedience to Him to look similar to what our love lives look like.

Think about it. When your in love with someone, you look for ways to please that person. You spend all of your time thinking about them. You live to make that person happy.

And that's what God wants. Not your heel-dragging submission, but your passionate delight and joy. Psalm 1 describes the blessed man like this: "but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night."

So lighten up, homeslice. Laugh a little. Ask God to show you what it means to be filled with the joy of the Lord.

Then just let go, and let it happen.

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