GREAT JOY

Today's reading: Acts 15-16

"And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message." Acts 15:31 NLT

Imagine a church setting where what the 'preacher' presented was accepted with great joy and seen as encouragement?

That all listening were moved in positive ways.

That everyone sitting on the pews accepted and rejoiced at what they heard.

Sounds near to impossible, doesn't it?

Because people get their feelings hurt by the minister's words.

Folks are put off by his tone.

Long-time church attenders don't think he should be talking about such things, or have a checklist of things he hasn't yet preached about.

And some people, well, some people just don't like the message he brings. Because it gets a little too close to their sins. Asks too much of their hearts and minds. Spotlights a shortcoming of theirs.

But when the message is given by the Holy Spirit, presented through a man led by the Holy Spirit, based upon the Word of God and attended to by folks led by the Lord--joy and encouragement come from its hearing.

Today's verse will make me listen with Holy Spirit anointed ears tomorrow as I sit on the pew.