Do you have or know joy?  Although, as Christians, we do not construct our self-image by poll, collage or perceptual feedback, it is important to know the effect of our unexplained joy.  Being filled with the Holy Spirit of God you will invariably begin to impact those around you in a positive or negative fashion.  What does your joy level say about your walk with God?

Are you exuding hope, filled with possibility and rest in the knowledge of salvation?  Do people feel drawn to you in curiosity?  Do they run from you when you’ve never even spoken one utterance of conviction?  Or do they pass bye perceiving no differentiating qualities between you and any other human?  Does the unavoidable presence of the earnest of our salvation, the eternal seal, the Holy Spirit, emanate from the simple process of just living your lives?

What does being salt and light have to do with abundant joy?  What are the characteristics of salt and light that make them perfect descriptions of how Christians should be perceived by the world?

Salt is most notably and historically used as a food preservative, delaying or inhibiting decay, preserving nutrition for prolonged usage.  It is also widely recognized for its taste enhancing qualities.  Some cultures cannot imagine eating any food without applied salt as without it, food would remain bland or unappealing.  Salt has many uses including as a solvent, restorative as well as its effects in cardio and kidney functionality.  How then may we have these type of effects upon the world?  How are those impacts similar to the repercussions of abundant joy?

Light makes things grow. Light also warms the cold and weary bones of travelers tired from longest winter.  Light illuminates the unusual, magnifies the magnificent and reflects the depth of any object.  But above all light dispels darkness, providing a hopeful guide to those caught in its dreary blackness.  Evil runs from light and life leans into it.  In our review of the general characteristics of salt and light we begin to see the remarkable similarities to joy.

Joy preserves the wearied, troubled or anxious heart.  Joy dispels darkness and attracts creatures of light.  Joy makes life taste better, circumstances easier to travail and induces curiosity into the blandest subject.  Joy also brings tears of rejoicing, excitement to replace fear and hope to conquer despair.  This is the greatest evidence of God’s presence in any believer, that they be filled with abundant joy denying the power of circumstance.   How are we to be salt and light to the world, perhaps we may begin that process through open, continuous display of abundant and inexplicable JOY.

Thank you Lord for my peace and joy that surpasses all worldly understanding.  May I use it to lead many to the cross where they will find their own joy in relationship with You.  In Jesus’ Name.