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For John the Baptizer came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man, and a drunkard; a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Luke 7:33 WEB

There was always a gloomy feeling that settled over you when you entered the church sanctuary. Everyone was somber with long faces like they were in mourning, but it was not a funeral. The elders, certainly looked elderly. The paintings of Jesus on the wall always made Him look sad. He was either a baby in a manger, or bleeding out on a cross. The church was cold, quiet, and highly religious. It was institutionalized religion at its finest, and the denomination was little more than a franchise.

When I read my Bible, I could not help but think, 'We seem to be missing something.' Jesus lived a colorful life, a full human life. He laughed with people, He loved people, He wept over people. Jesus had friends. He fasted often, but at other times, He ate well. The pharisees stood outside and watched Him eat with tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:11). While they felt they were too holy to go inside.

Jesus gave His disciples nicknames like the 'Sons of Thunder' (Mark 3:17) when James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven. He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21). The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17) and I believe that Jesus walked in that realm. The joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10) and I believe that Jesus was strong in joy.

The great reformer Martin Luther became a monk and wore himself out praying to saints, fasting, and confessing to his superiors, yet it gave him no peace. Then one day he found true grace, left monkery, married a nun, and changed the known world. Luther raised ten children and concluded that 'Marriage is a far better school for character than any monastery."

The Lord Jesus wants you to live a full and wonderful life just like He did. There will be times of laughing, and times of weeping. There will be times of fasting, and there will be times of feasting. There is a time to be born, and a time to die. So allow room for joy in your life and balance the drudgery. Don't allow cold, dead religion to sap the joy from your life, for it was God who invented sunshine.

Prayer: Heavenly Father please restore the joy to my life and let me feel Your touch once again. Help me focus on what is important to You, and guide my heart. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

Note: 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.' (Philippians 4:6-7) ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network

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