DAY 8 CHRISTMAS GOOD NEWS: BRING BACK THE JOY

Religious stuff can bring a few laughs to the surface. I freely admit, I find some church architecture funny. Correction, I find a lot of it funny. The same could be said for the “business” side of things. I occasionally must bite my lip when I’m in an ultra-somber meeting (where a silent smile could make scandalous waves) and begin to look at the faces in the room. Some of them—and some of the remarks being made—are borderline hilarious. It’s not that I make light of those things . . . I simply find humor in them.

Such humor is not making jokes out of life, it’s recognizing the ones that are there. Frankly, I find some funny material in Scripture. Many of the scenes are a crack-up! Some comments are too. Not all, you understand, and not even most . . . but some. And that is exactly as God planned it. He would never author a book that is colorless, somber, and boring. He is the One, you’ll recall, who led Solomon to write:

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. Proverbs 17:22

To which I shout a hearty “Amen!” That same wise man also penned these words:

A glad heart makes a happy face;
a broken heart crushes the spirit. . . .
For the despondent, every day brings trouble;
for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.
Prove r b s 1 5 : 1 3 , 1 5

I like those last two words. My plea is not that everybody starts reading the comics or watches all those mindless sitcoms. That’s external, superficial, and silly. I’m suggesting a project far more significant—developing a lighter heart that comes from a confidence in the living God, the loving Creator, the sovereign Lord who gave us humor and smiles every time we enjoy His gift.

Abraham Lincoln is said to have quipped, “Every man over forty is responsible for his face.” So, relax. Smile. Let out a roar of laughter, and your frown will disappear.

This is an excerpt from Good Morning Lord, Can We Talk? by Charles Swindoll, available at OMF Lit Bookshops, shop.omflit.com, Shopee, and Lazada for P365.

Timeless Bible wisdom from renowned pastor and teacher, Charles R. Swindoll.

Do you long for daily encouragement and inspiration? Do you wish your quiet times were filled with power and purpose? Discover the joy and ease of meeting with God each day in a meaningful way with this year-long devotional by one of the world’s premiere Bible teachers. Filled with daily insights from Charles R. Swindoll, Good Morning, Lord... Can We Talk? will give you a glimpse of the living power of God in your own life—and connect you to the restorative promises God speaks in His Scriptures.