Once again I share with you, dear reader, a meditation from Joanne Lowe. You can get these meditations yourself every day simply by visiting her website and subscribing.
YOU CAN GIVE A SMILE
“Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” Acts 3: 6 (King James Version)
For many years I didn’t think there was anything I could do for Jesus. I have been told many times that I can’t carry a tune in a bucket so according to the world I can’t sing. However, when I sing to Jesus, I know it makes Him happy because it comes from my heart. You may not be a singer, a preacher, a teacher or anyone who is in front of the public but if you have invited Jesus into your heart to be your personal Saviour, you can smile at people.
I know that it is impossible to smile all the time because we have so many disappointments, burdens, heartaches and sorrows in our lives. However, if Jesus lives in our hearts we have His joy in our hearts. We could never generate that joy. It is His joy, not our joy that shines on our faces in our smiles. The Bible tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8: 10).
Even in the midst of the hurricanes of life, we can smile at people because we know that Jesus loves us and His joy is our strength. How sad it would be if people didn’t see the joy of having Jesus in our hearts by our smiles and hear His compassion, understanding and unconditional love in our words. You may not feel like being cheerful and smiling and talking to people. However, I’m sure when our precious Saviour was hanging on that cruel cross of horror and excruciating pain that He didn’t feel cheerful or feel like talking to anyone. He certainly didn’t feel like smiling but He still loved us even though we had beat Him beyond recognition, had spat on Him, had cursed Him, had mocked Him and had rejected Him.
You might think “I’m not guilty of crucifying Jesus. I didn’t beat Him or spit on Him, or curse Him, or mock Him or reject Him. I wasn’t there that day.” However, every time we say criticizing and sarcastic words to someone or we are cruel and mean to someone, we are just as guilty as if we were there that day pounding the nails into the hands and the heart of our precious Saviour.
Even in the midst of all of the agony and the suffering that our precious Saviour endured for us, we read in the Bible that His heart was still full of compassion and unconditional love for us. “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots” (Luke 23: 33, 34 ).
Are you willing to allow the joy of Jesus to shine on your face in your smile and in your words even when you are discouraged and heartbroken? If Jesus could love us so much while hanging on the old rugged cross, heartbroken, bleeding and beaten beyond recognition that He said “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” how can you and I not give of ourselves and smile for Him?
Remember, the level of your service to Jesus depends on your level of love for Him. Let me repeat this because it is so important “the level of your service to Jesus depends on your level of love for Him”. How much do you love Him and how much are you willing to do for Him? Do you love Him enough to shut off the television and call someone who is lonely, discouraged, and heartbroken and who desperately needs to know that someone cares?
For many years I didn’t think there was anything I could do for Jesus. I have been told many times that I can’t carry a tune in a bucket so according to the world I can’t sing. However, when I sing to Jesus, I know it makes Him happy because it comes from my heart. You may not be a singer, a preacher, a teacher or anyone who is in front of the public but if you have invited Jesus into your heart to be your personal Saviour, you can smile at people.
I know that it is impossible to smile all the time because we have so many disappointments, burdens, heartaches and sorrows in our lives. However, if Jesus lives in our hearts we have His joy in our hearts. We could never generate that joy. It is His joy, not our joy that shines on our faces in our smiles. The Bible tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8: 10).
Even in the midst of the hurricanes of life, we can smile at people because we know that Jesus loves us and His joy is our strength. How sad it would be if people didn’t see the joy of having Jesus in our hearts by our smiles and hear His compassion, understanding and unconditional love in our words. You may not feel like being cheerful and smiling and talking to people. However, I’m sure when our precious Saviour was hanging on that cruel cross of horror and excruciating pain that He didn’t feel cheerful or feel like talking to anyone. He certainly didn’t feel like smiling but He still loved us even though we had beat Him beyond recognition, had spat on Him, had cursed Him, had mocked Him and had rejected Him.
You might think “I’m not guilty of crucifying Jesus. I didn’t beat Him or spit on Him, or curse Him, or mock Him or reject Him. I wasn’t there that day.” However, every time we say criticizing and sarcastic words to someone or we are cruel and mean to someone, we are just as guilty as if we were there that day pounding the nails into the hands and the heart of our precious Saviour.
Even in the midst of all of the agony and the suffering that our precious Saviour endured for us, we read in the Bible that His heart was still full of compassion and unconditional love for us. “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots” (Luke 23: 33, 34 ).
Are you willing to allow the joy of Jesus to shine on your face in your smile and in your words even when you are discouraged and heartbroken? If Jesus could love us so much while hanging on the old rugged cross, heartbroken, bleeding and beaten beyond recognition that He said “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” how can you and I not give of ourselves and smile for Him?
Remember, the level of your service to Jesus depends on your level of love for Him. Let me repeat this because it is so important “the level of your service to Jesus depends on your level of love for Him”. How much do you love Him and how much are you willing to do for Him? Do you love Him enough to shut off the television and call someone who is lonely, discouraged, and heartbroken and who desperately needs to know that someone cares?
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