Today's Reading: Isaiah 50-52; 1 Thessalonians 5
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Acts 6:8, 10
Have you ever been with someone or just watched a person who was irresistible? Some people have a charisma that attracts others to them and the reasons for the attraction are not always obvious. I remember taking a bowling class in college to fulfill one of my elective course requirements. On the first day I thought the instructor was a bit overzealous as he enthusiastically explained the course curriculum. What is there to get excited about in a bowling class? But to my surprise, it was not long before I found this class to be a refreshing break and actually looked forward to attending. Why? Not because I love bowling, but because the instructor shared his joy in such a way that I found myself attracted to his energy and enthusiasm.
We need to realize how often we affect those around us just by our expressions and attitude. It is amazing to think about how contagious our attitudes and behaviors can be to others. As Christians, we are to be lights in this dark world. We are called to share the good news of Jesus Christ and to proclaim His love, joy and peace to everyone. If we truly have His Spirit, as Stephen did, then we will be irresistible to those listening to us.
Think about your behavior and attitude today as you go about your activities, especially how you express yourself. A smile goes a long way, and there is something contagious about laughter. Before you start your day, stop and ask the Lord to fill you with His wisdom and Spirit. Ask for His joy to be your strength and for His peace to prevail over all of your circumstances. And, if you keep smiling long enough, eventually people will want to know your secret. Then you get to tell them all about Jesus because He is truly the only reason any of us can smile and have real joy.
