For Saturday September 9, 2023

Luke 24:52-53
They worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were
continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.

Joy is the Christian’s middle name. When Jesus ascended to heaven, the disciples returned to Jerusalem full of joy, and their joy was highly contagious. Shortly afterward, on the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached to the crowds and referred to Psalm 16: “You will make me full of joy in Your presence” (Acts 2:28). When the gospel reached Samaria, there was great joy in that city (Acts 8:8). Even when Paul and Barnabas were thrown out of Antioch, they were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:52).

The attitude of joy is one of our greatest witnessing tools. Sometimes we don’t need to say a word; we just need a joyful spirit as we serve others and find ways of being useful for the Kingdom. Often the door of evangelism is opened on the hinges of joy, as others begin to want what we have.

Make up your mind that this will be a joyful day!

In the pathways of sadness, sweetest lilies may grow;
Let us sow seeds of gladness—let the joy overflow.
ELIZA E. HEWITT

David Jeremiah, Turning Points with God: 365 Daily Devotions (Tyndale, 2014)
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.