There is a difference between being serious and being solemn. God wants us to be serious, but I don't know of any place in the Bible where he commands us to be solemn, to have a long face and a miserable look.

To be able to laugh at yourself and at the world around you, and to be able to laugh with others, is a mark of maturity.

A famous Shakespearean actress once said: "You grow up when you get your first laugh at yourself." I'm not talking about silly comedy, I'm talking about good holy humour. Jesus wants us to have joy. He had joy. He said to his disciples: "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." (John 15:11).

Christian people are joyful people. Joy lubricates the machinery of life and makes everything run much smoother. Satan has a harder time tempting the man who has joy in his heart. A joyful Christian is a witnessing Christian because he has something exciting to share with others - and they can see the difference.

Don't you agree - if there are two commodities that are in short supply in our world today they are Love and Joy. How do we share our joy? By our attitudes. We can't hide joy once it is in our hearts and running over! We don't have to wear signs telling people we are joyful! They will see it in our attitudes and actions.

The joyful Christian shares his joy by accepting the burdens of life without complaining and is willing to do the small tasks the others ignore; and when he does the big jobs, he is willing for others to share the credit.

All around us are people who are lonely and bitter, and they need a good dose of Christian love and joy. They may not be the easiest people in the world to work with, each with, or talk to, but they need what we have to offer.

This week's thought: There's more hope for a confessed sinner than a conceited saint.