"Entitlement"

It completely amazes me how people in today's world feel they are 'entitled' to so much in their daily lives. Often I hear folks say to others, "it's alright, I deserve it so I'll do this or that." Having that mentality truly undermines a Christ-follower's way of doing things. We, as human beings, do not really have anything we deserve except for our Lord and Savior's eternal judgment and punishment. There isn't anything that states anywhere in the Bible that we are entitled to eternal happiness either. Most folks misunderstand and misrepresent that 'joy' in the Bible means 'happiness.' This is duly incorrect.

It might not be 100% accurate but I've heard it from other places that the 'feeling of happy' is specific to a situation and is very limited. Joy, on the other hand, is the contentment of whatever situation happens within your own life and knowing Christ is in it. Again, I know I might not be 100% accurate but it's something similar to this thought process on joy vs. happy.

Humility is part of this issue of human 'entitlement.' We human beings feel we do deserve things in today's world and pride and selfishness get into the way. If we all were less selfish and self-serving, what would today's world look like? Jesus gave us the perfect example when he continually put his own life behind others. The ultimate example was the Cross. What if we all settled for less and realized that the only thing we are entitled to is eternal judgment from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? One word.....humility toward Him.

Bottom line specifically though - wouldn't you rather be humble and joyful in all situations and feel the peace and contentment that Christ is inside us in all of those moments? It's incredible when there's a tough time in someone's life and typically they will move toward faith but then fall away when things are going well. Why not follow Christ in all circumstances?

J-O-Y

While listening to K-Love on the radio in getting ready for work and my morning 'ritual' of devotion time and so forth, someone came on the radio and mentioned how things could really change if people really understood the importance of JOY in 2010. They went deeper explaining that not only joy is not the same as happiness but they gave a great acronym for the word.

J - Jesus is first
O - Others next
Y - Yourself

If we all thought of J-O-Y in this manner for 2010, how much could really change in the world around us? God Bless K-Love and its ministry and those who they reach each day.