How much of what the Lord has called you to do is done by you in gladness of heart, and how much do you perform for His glory wishing, as it were, that you could be doing something else?
If we are to do all we do for His glory, and we are, does that mean that we are to exhibit positive, uplifting emotions to all we meet continuously, as well as those emotions within ourselves at all times? In other words, are we to be happy, a smile plated upon our face and a cheerful attitude at all times, no matter what?
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:” (Eph. 4:26)
That’s what those in this world expect from us, all the time, happy, smiling, cheerful people continuously, and you will find many who profess to serve the Lord Jesus Christ who believe the same thing. And even if they have to force that smile onto their face, they will never be anything other than cheerful in public.
Happy, smiling Christians who just love everybody, who believe all should be welcomed into what they call their house of worship, who would rather have the sky fall upon them than offend one person. To these my friends, there are none that have been given over to a reprobate mind, all are as that thief on the cross next to our Savior.
And so, as they lie to themselves, as they deceive themselves, they do everything in gladness of heart. But the Almighty can see their heart, and there is no joy in it, only the fear that they might not be seen by others as what they believe a Christian is to be.
To these, anger is a sin, to these, not to cast the pearls of God to all would be a sin. These that continue in this self-absorbing happiness, judging anyone would be a sin.
And so, while they perform the so-called Christian duties, they wish they could be doing something else. Anger, a bad mood, a frown, anything that might cause those they meet to see them as anything besides what they believe a follower of Christ is to be they will avert at any cost.
I ask you a question, when was the last time you can recall speaking to anyone who professed to be saved who brought up the cult of Romanism with a hatred expressed towards those who perpetrate it upon others? When have you ever met one who professes to serve the Living God to whom this verse was a truth, and they exhibited it in public?
“Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?” (Psalm 139:21)
No my friends, of course not, we are taught to love all, and even if most met a Pharisee today, they would not call them hypocrites or vipers. That would not be Christlike.
Love everyone, be happy all the time, if any thoughts come into your mind that might seem derogatory towards others, push them away, and put that smile back on your face.
“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” (Gal. 1:10)
So, everything those this letter speaks of is done with gladness, but with a heart that is far from Him.
It is said that character and integrity is who we are when we are alone. These spoken of here my friends are always alone, for the only person they are ever thinking about is themselves. This is what I am supposed to be, not this is who Christ is calling me to be.
One thing I have learned about those who are truly born again, they always speak their mind, and their mind is always on the truths of God.
