Believe it or not: fun is good. Too often people think that Christians should not have fun. But if Christians are not celebrating God’s love for us who is? If Christians are not dancing with angels and praising the Lord cheerfully who is? If Christians are not embracing God’s awesomeness who is?
Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! (Phil.4:4, MSG)
We are meant to love life and the Giver of life. We are not to be afraid of merriment. Fun is good. Joyfulness is good. Laughter is good. Because God is much more than good. He is AWESOME!
I know life is full of challenges and hardships but real joy in Jesus is not about happy circumstances or lucky strikes. Real joy is not aimless pursuit for entertainment. Real joy is found only in Jesus Christ. Through him we have joyous hope in salvation and eternal life. We have so much more than this world can offer in any cheap entertainment.
We are not to live in cheerlessness because God is not against fun. John MacArthur says it this way: “God is not a cosmic killjoy. I know some people who believe He is. They think God runs around saying, “There’s one having fun; get him!” They believe God wants to rain on everybody’s parade. But that isn’t so. God made you. He knows how you operate best. And He knows what makes you happy. The happiness He gives doesn’t stop when the party’s over. It lasts because it comes from deep within.”
God wants the best for us. He wants us to experience real joy in him. God wants us to be joyful and enjoy our lives. He wants us to have life and more life. God’s whole being is full of love and joy towards his children. He wants our lives to be brimming with happiness and everlasting joy.
What we do with God’s gifts of life, love, and joy is up to us. We can send the gifts back. We can left the packages unopened and untouched. Or we can receive them and celebrate life and the Giver of Life with praise and thanksgiving. I know what my choice is: receiving, celebrating and dancing with the angels. Will you join me?
Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.
Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.
May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it! (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, MSG)
Gracious God,
Lift out hang-ups, take away our joy-killers.
Thank you for giving us real joy.
Help us to embrace you as you really are.
Thank you for offering us life and more life.
Help us to rejoice always.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim! Dare to believe God’s promises, embrace God’s love and rejoice!
Q4U: Which way are you tempted to go? Through cheerlessness or blaming God for being a joy-killer?
Photo courtesy of Tiago Berezoski
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