"Let’s say someone asked you to describe God’s will."

A thought by Kyle Idleman, from his book, One at a Time (p. 126). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

What would you say?

Kyle says, "Perhaps 'Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus' (1 Thess. 5:16–18 NLT)?"

He continues, "This might not be what you expect, but God tells us his will includes joy. Always.

"When the angels announced the birth of Jesus, their message was, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people' (Luke 2:10).

"Jesus came to bring great joy.

"Jesus came to bring his joy and fill us with it. He said, 'These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full' (John 15:11 ESV)."

He goes on, "God’s will, the Good News of Jesus, is about joy. Yet listen to how someone once described their perception of Christianity: 'Christianity is the haunting fear that someone somewhere is having a good time.'

"We need to give people a different view of who Jesus is by giving them a different view of who we are as his followers. Not only because a joyless Christianity misrepresents Jesus and the will of God but also because a joyless Christianity is unattractive."

He then says, "Jesus didn’t draw crowds to himself and impact people one at a time by being joyless. People were drawn to him and will be to us because of joy."

Now, that is very important for us to see, isn't it? Yes, yes! #continuethought

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