Today’s Blog: Do We Carry Joy?

TODAY’S PROVERB: When the righteous thrive, people rejoice. When the wicked rule, people groan. Proverbs 29:2, TLV

A few years ago, I came across an obscure news outlet on the internet. A show was airing an interview of local Muslim businessmen somewhere in the Middle East—I think it was Syria, but I could be wrong. It was subtitled in English, and roughly produced. Honestly, I don’t know why I continued to watch, but I did. And I’m glad.

The interviewer asked these business owners what they thought about the recent takeover of their city by one of the radical Islamic factions.

It was a lively discussion, and surprisingly candid about their difficulties under the new regime, especially as it pertained to getting supplies in and curfews. But, mostly the difficulties they described pertained to how they ran their businesses, not so much about how it personally affected them and their families.

One older gentleman was quiet, except for a few simple responses. He was the only one dressed in the more traditional thwab of an Arab—not like the others who were dressed in casual shirts and trousers.

Finally, the interviewer noticed this man’s silence and posed his question again, but directly to the man: What did he think of the new regime?

The old man’s eyes teared. He said he missed his Christian neighbors. The families had fled for their lives once this radical group took over. The man then said: “They were such happy people. There is no longer joy in our village.”

Do we bring joy into our village? As followers of Yeshua—Jesus—we strive to be salt and light to those around us. But without uttering a word, do people recognize a difference in us that is compelling and inviting. Do we bring joy? Do we represent integrity and honesty? Would people miss us if we were gone?

In an age where many of us don’t know our neighbors, and we’ve isolated ourselves around technology, how would they even know our heart or how much the LORD means to us?

It’s about intention

We must seek the LORD to find out how to be intentional with our lives. Not that we show off our blessings—we’re simply available. Visible. We can do this by helping others, especially our neighbors and co-workers who don’t know the LORD. Volunteering, donating, supporting outside our congregations and the community of believers, spreads the joy of the LORD around us. Something to think about.

May we thrive and those around us rejoice, my friends.

Proverbs 29:2 Tree of Life Version – TLV, #tlvbible, #tlvproverbs

IF THIS BLOG WAS A BLESSING, PLEASE SHARE. AND I LOVE TO HEAR HOW THE LORD HAS USED YOU TO BE A JOY. THANKS SO MUCH!