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Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” (Psalm 126:2 ESV)

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Christians today are noticed for our self-righteousness and our anger.  And maybe, as we watch the world step away from God, and hear the world mock God, and find ourselves with less and less influence in the world, we have reason for anger, and for fear, and for disappointment.

But our mouths can do more than complain, criticize, and condemn.

We can also laugh.

And when we laugh, we present a winsome face to the world.  When we laugh because of God’s helping hand, the nations notice, and can be impressed with God’s work.  When we laugh because we see His victories, even though often they are hidden, the nations notice and can be impressed with God.  When we laugh because we know God keeps His promises, the nations notice can be impressed with God.

We are, in this world, the image of God.  We are how the world sees God.  We are how the world notices God.

And laughter is a better advertisement than anger.

Comfort

Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. (Luke 6:21 ESV)

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5:4 ESV)

Comfort

In the midst of a recent stressful time, my wife and I found a new thing to laugh about.  It was silly, meaningless, and kind of cutesy.  But we laughed.

And the laughter grew from a snicker, to a shnortle, to a laugh, to a belly laugh.  And oh, it felt good.

Since that time, we remind each other of that moment.  And we laugh again.

That laughter was a gift from God to us.  Combining the verses above, we were mourning… and God comforted us with laughter.

Sometimes God comforts mourners and weepers by giving us understanding of what is going on.

Sometimes God comforts mourners and weepers by giving us His Word, driven into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes God comforts mourners and weepers by giving us the desires of our hearts.

Sometimes God comforts mourners and weepers by giving us resolution to our trouibles.

Always God comforts mourners and weepers by drawing our eyes to the Light, Jesus Christ.

But sometimes, and it can be so sweet, God comforts mourners and weepers by giving us the gift of laughter!

God gives good gifts.

Yet!

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting. (Job 8:21 ESV)

Yet!

It is rumored (falsely) that Eskimos have over a thousand words for snow.  Because snow takes many forms, and serves many purposes, Eskimos understand the variety of snows.

Laughter just might be the same sort of thing.  There is painful laughter, fearful laughter, worried laughter, giddy laughter, silly laughter, uncontrollable laughter, habitual laughter, reactive laughter, delayed laughter, and my favorite: a belly laugh.

One of Job’s friends correctly promises Job that because God is good, His people will find laughter in the end.  Good laughter.  Pleasant laughter.  Relaxing laughter.  Peaceful laughter.  Joyful laughter.  Unabashed laughter.

Maybe even a belly laugh.

Laughter is coming.  The Daily News might be discouraging.  Yesterday might have been dark.  Our fears might be overwhelming.  Our tears might be cutting furrows in our cheeks…

But laughter is coming.

Jesus already paid for it.  It is more sure, even, than our expectations of more sorrows.

Laughter is coming.

Our trust that God knows what He is doing might even bring an early smirk today.

Our realization that God’s love, which is so deep that He killed His only-begotten Son for us, brings joyful laughter might even bring an early eye-crinkle today.

Definitions

The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. (Psalm 145:9 ESV)

Definitions

Intuitively, most folk understand what humor is.  We know when an event is funny.  We know what circumstances are funny.  We know that some things just make us laugh.

Humor and laughter are found in Scripture.  Usually described by narrative… sometimes described by definitions.

We see mocking laughter in the Bible.  We see laughing in acknowledgement of victory in the Bible.  We see joy that results in laughter in the Bible.  We see contentment that leads to laughter in the Bible.

My usual go-to understanding of humor, funny, and laughter starts with the idea of incongruity.  We notice a disconnect between expectations and reality.  And when that incongruity is pleasant, we sometimes find humor.  Laughter is often a reaction to an extremely surprising (but pleasant) distance between what we think is going to occur, and what actually ends up happening.

Why would I think the Bible would have anything to say about such occurrences?  Because God’s Word creates and develops our expectations for today’s and tomorrow’s events.  God describes for His people a true picture of reality, and that picture is sometimes different than what we expect and experience.

For the next few weeks, let’s wander around the idea of expectations.  What do we expect our world and our lives to be like?  What is our strongest source of expectations? 

And when our expectations do not meet with our reality, what is our reaction?

Because God is GOOD, His plans are GOOD.  Our earthbound expectations are often in conflict with the beautiful, bright, and dare I say fun plans that God is enacting around us, and in us.

I believe that we need more laughter amongst God’s people.

And I am expecting the Bible to display that.

God is good… so we can find reasons to laugh.

LAUGHTER

I recently observed a number of people laughing in different situations.  Someone told a funny joke, and people laughed in response.  A young person was clumsy, and people laughed.  A man misunderstood a current event, and people laughed.  At a time of tension, someone noticed something funny, and laughter relieved the tension.  A couple was feeling emotionally close, and laughter resulted. 

Laughter is a strange and common thing.

Does God have a sense of humor?

Is laughter the Best Medicine?

Is laughter primarily hurtful, or healing?

Does God’s Word have anything to say about laughter?

For the next weeks, we will be examining what the Bible says about laughter.

Mountains

For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20 ESV)

Mountains

After the battle of Waterloo, the British commander, the Duke of Wellington, had his bored soldiers build a mountain.  He considered that the creation of that mountain would be a testimony to the faith displayed by those soldiers in defeating (twice) the Perfect General, Napoleon.  Build a MOUNTAIN?  Impossible!  Defeat Napoleon???  Impossible!

That mountain is still there.  It is an amazingly beautiful monument… touchable, climbable, and OH what a view!

Jesus was not describing a new method of landscaping.  He was claiming that Faith is present in impossible things.

Such as forgiveness.  It is impossible for us to earn forgiveness in the eyes of our Holy God.  But faith makes the impossible real.

It is impossible for us to be forgiving.  Especially when our hurts and righteous anger are entrenched in our memories and our hearts.  But faith makes the impossible real.

In fact, faith makes the impossible amazingly beautiful.

Rebuke

It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools. (Ecclesiastes 7:5 ESV)

Rebuke

The wisdom of the world, EVEN what we praise as so-called Common Sense tells us to get even, to withhold forgiveness until earned, and to never forget offenses.

But that wisdom is foolish, Biblically.

It is short-term thinking.  It is self-centeredness.  It shows a motivation of fear, instead of trust.  It denies the power, effect, and wonder of the gospel.  It hates instead of loves.  It brings death instead of life.

The gospel, wisdom itself, rebukes our grudges.  The gospel, wisdom itself, rebukes our lack of forgiveness.   The gospel, wisdom itself, rebukes our nurtured hatred.

Whom will we hear?

The End

When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to Him who judges justly.  (I Peter 2:23 ESV)

The End

Jesus, even during His earthly life, forgave.

He had more reason to hold a grudge than anyone.  He was unjustly reviled.  He unfairly suffered.  He was treated how His sinful people should have been treated, instead of with the respect and awe He deserved.

But He did not lash out.  He did not seek retribution.  He did not demand justice.

Because He knew what was coming.

God would bring justice.

Without diminishing the wrath of God that is coming on those who reject Him, the most surprising aspect of God’s justice is that it came on our innocent Savior.  On our behalf!

The end result of God’s justice that COULD have come on our heads, came on Christ’s head.

The end result of God’s justice that WOULD have come on our heads, came on Christ’s head.

The end result of God’s justice that SHOULD have come on our heads, came on Christ’s head.

He forgave because He knew His Father was in the process of forgiving.  He held no grudge because He knew His Father was in the process of forgiving.  His righteous anger fell away because He knew His Father was in the process of forgiving.

The End gave meaning to the means!

Dancing

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! (Psalm 30:11,12 ESV)

Dancing

I bear grudges.  I remember hurts.  I nurture anger.  I am uncomfortably comfortable with my lack of forgiveness.

And as I wallow in that mud, I realize that I am pretty entrenched.

It is a horrible habit.  And like all habits it is difficult to break.

But asking God’s help gives hope.

I will no longer mourn my lack of forgiveness.  I will no longer wear shameful sackcloth of grudges.  I will dance in gratitude to the God who changes my heart.

May that dancing day come soon!

Counting

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45 ESV)

Counting

Many of us are counters.  Probably all of us.  But WHAT we keep track of demonstrates what we value.  Runners count miles.  Dieters count calories.  Sports fans count Olympic medals our country accumulates.  Grandparents count grandchildren.  Walmart counts customers.  Bankers count deposits.

And perhaps because we do not value the forgiveness granted His children by God, Christians count sins. 

Particularly, in the light of this series, we count grudges, enemies, frenemies, hates, and those we consider, “them.”

Instead, it would help move our hearts towards Godly graciousness, if we started to notice and remember the times we have forgiven others.

No, we do not need to keep a bragging book.  But somehow, we easily remember our lack of forgiveness.  Sometimes with shame.  Sometimes with a sense of justification.  Sometimes almost with pride.

Remembering the times God has enabled us to forgive, or even enabled us to desire to forgive puts goodness in the treasury of our hearts.

And that increased treasury increases our ability to forgive.

Think about Christ’s treasury in this way.  While He COULD harbor anger and hate in His heart, His heart is love-filled.  And so, forgiveness flows supernaturally from Him.

Count your forgiveness-es, name them one by one…

Counting

Blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” (Romans 4:8 ESV)

Counting

WARNING: MATHEMATICAL CONCEPT AHEAD.

What does zero mean?  In a way, it a number just like any other.  Measuring along a line, we move from negative 1, to zero, to positive 1.  Subtracting 17 from 17 yields an answer of zero. 

But in another way, it is the absence of any number.  When we are estimating how many days until Christmas, zero does not make sense.  Zero means nothing… not necessarily nothing on the way to one.

When considering our Lord’s forgiveness of our sins, the Lord does not any longer count them.  So in His mind, we have zero sins.  Not merely less than one sin.  But no sin.  He does not count them because counting zero sins makes no sense.

That nothingness was costly, but we do not pay for it.  Jesus does.

Jesus obliterated all the numbers on our sin-counting spreadsheet.   There is nothing to count.

Zero is a wonderful number!

Sweet

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. (Proverbs 16:24 ESV)

Sweet

When I was young, the word was, “cool.”  At other times the word might be, “groovy,” “fab,” “bad,” “gnarly,” “awesome,” “neato,” “mint,” or “Poppin’.”  But lately, the word is, “sweet!”

Honeycomb, in olden days, was nutritious, somewhat available, versatile, and tasty. 

And in a way, words can be all of those things, as well as their opposites.

But this verse seems to focus most clearly on the tastiness of honey.

Honey is sweet.

Our words can be sweet, too.

Two particular phrases come to mind.  First, “I forgive you” is a sweet phrase.  Folk do not hear it often.  When we hear that phrase, directed at us, it is sweet.

But also, “You are forgiven” is a sweet phrase.  Whether forgiven by a friend, a spouse, or the public, it is sweet to know forgiveness.  And more-so when we hear God’s sweet words of forgiveness.

It is sweet because it points us to the only source of forgiveness, Jesus.  It is sweet because it calms our embattled hearts.  It is sweet because it is a gift.  It is sweet because it is so very good for us.

Forgiveness is sweet.

The Future

Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow… (Matthew 6:24 ESV)

Future

Sometimes I am very aware of all the things that might go wrong tomorrow.

That strange noise in the car might get worse… TERRIBLY worse.

That discomfort in a particular muscle might get worse… TERRIBLY worse.

The troublesome economic signs might get worse… TERRIBLY worse.

The grocery store might run out of bacon.

Star Trek might go permanently off the air.

My football team might lose.  And lose.  And lose.

And maybe things much worse than any of those things.

But one thing will never happen.  God will not forget to forgive my sins.  God will never change His mind about forgiving me. God will never not forgive me.

And that is the most necessary part of our future.

It does not take a circus fortune teller to predict this important part of tomorrow, and tomorrow’s tomorrow.

God will forgive your sins.

But not because He is a nicey-nice grandfatherly old pushover.  No.  Christians are assured of God’s forgiveness because God already banked Christ’s payment for our infractions.

God will forgive your sins.  Because He already has.

Starting Over

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 2:22,23 ESV)

Starting Over

Our broken relationship with God is fixed, because of Christ.  God starts over fresh with us every morning.  He forgave us at the cross, and the next day, and the next day, and the next day… and tomorrow.

Unlike any other aspect of our lives, our relationship with God has a constant RESET button.  He sees us freshly, in the light of Jesus, in the robes of Jesus, and in the presence of Jesus.  He forgave us, forgives us, and will forgive us.

Believe in Jesus, and God rejoices in starting us over.  As often as it takes.

And we can fix every broken relationship in the same way.  Exactly the same way.

We can forgive.  We get to forgive.  We are called to forgive. 

The same gift of God, starting over, can extend to every relationship we have.  Spouse, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, church-mates, heroes, employers, employees, co-workers…

If it were just up to our emotions, attitudes, and thoughts, this would be impossible.  But instead, it is up to Christ’s work. 

Forgive in Christ, and we can fix every broken relationship.  We can start over.

Hiding

Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord. (Zephaniah 2:3 ESV)

Hiding

In scary movies, the more terrifying the monster, the more urgently the need to hide.  A fanged zombie mouse would not concern me all that much.  A hybrid King Kong, Godzilla, and the Invisible Man would send me to the hills!

We hide from a lot of terrifying things these days.  We hide in entertainment from the fear of bad news.  We hide in dessert from the fear of sadness.  We hide in work from the fear of responsibility.  We hide in self-righteousness form the fear of God’s Judgment.

But there is only one place to hide from God’s Anger.

We can hide in the absolute sure knowledge that God has forgiven His people, because God punished Jesus instead of us.

When Zephaniah writes poetically, “perhaps you may be hidden,”  we know he meant, “YOU CAN BE HIDDEN.”

Hiding from God’s wrath is only safe in one place.

Under Christ’s robe.  Beneath the cross.  Forgiveness is the only place to hide.

Anger

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. (Ephesians 4:26 ESV)

Anger

Anger is apparently a legitimate Christian reaction, or Paul would not begin this sentence with that phrase, “be angry.”   God Himself has been angry.  Angry enough to kill His own Son!

Anger at personal Sin is legitimate.  Anger at national Sin is legitimate.  Anger at the effects of Sin is legitimate. Anger at injustice is legitimate.  Anger at rebellion against God is legitimate.

But some angers are not legitimate.  Anger because of hurt feelings is not legitimate.  Anger because of the failure of selfish dreams is not legitimate.  Anger because of the loss of something I think of as mine is not legitimate.

But more than that, we get to be careful about how we express our anger.

Things that are unloving in everyday circumstances do not become righteous just because we are angry.

Let’s repeat that.  Things that are unloving in everyday circumstances do not become righteous just because we are angry.

THIS is how we get to always react to circumstances, words, actions, and situations:  With Love.

And also with forgiveness.  If we are still angry in the morning, we have not forgiven.  And our anger becomes revealed simply for what it is:  OUR sin.

The answer to anger is forgiveness.

Which was also GOD’S answer to His Anger, wasn’t it?

Sacrifice

But the king said to Araunah, “No. I’ve got to buy it from you for a good price; I’m not going to offer God, my God, sacrifices that are no sacrifice.” (II Samuel 24:24 ESV)

Sacrifice

The things we give up for God are not payments for His Grace.  In fact, they are not further Hard Obediences that He requires of us.

The things we give up for God are the result of us, His People, attempting to put HIM above ourselves.

If I had to give up food for God, I would gladly give up kale, onions, or green beans.  I would not be quite so willing to give up bacon, hamburgers, or ice cream.  But He does not ask me to give up food.

If I had to give up reading for God, I would gladly give up the news, Medical Journals, or Computer Programming textbooks.  I would not be quite so willing to give up Science Fiction, ancient history, or graphic novels.  But He does not ask me to give up reading.

If I had to give up relationships for God, I would gladly give up angry people, pot-stirring people, or strangers I met once.  I would not be quite so willing to give up family, churchfolk, or comedians.  But God does not ask me to give up people.

Unless any of those things are more important to me than He is.

But He does ask me to forgive.  But again, I would gladly give up my grudges against far away nations.  I would gladly give up my anger against strangers.  I would gladly give up frustration with ‘different’ people.

But it is harder to forgive those who hurt me deeply.  Those who negatively effected loves ones.  Those who dislike me.  Those who plan against the Church.  Those who refuse to listen.  Those who it feels good to be angry against.

And it is THOSE kinds of sacrificial forgivenesses that God asks of us.  Commands us, in fact.

Forgiving like Jesus means forgiving EVEN those grudges, anger, and hate that we nourish, enjoy, and about which we feel justified.

Forgive, especially when it is hard.

Leaven

“The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” (Matthew 13:33 ESV)

Leaven

This woman hides her valuable leaven in an unusual way.  She does not place the leaven in a sealed crockpot, so that it will remain useful.  Instead, she USES it.  She realizes that the value of the leaven is in leavening, not merely existing.

The same can be true with any treasure that the Lord has placed in our stewardship.  Money, land, relationships, talents, and time ALL are best preserved by using them.  Not hoarding them.

And even forgiveness.

We have been given the free gospel gift of forgiveness. 

The BEST, maybe the only, way to make use of it is to forgive others.  In the same way WE were given that gift.  Unconditionally.  Joyfully.  Often.  Repeatedly. Purposefully. Eagerly.  Even sacrificially.

Just like leaven, using forgiveness like THAT will make the bread of life rise!

Foreheads

 They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. (Revelation 22:4)

Foreheads

Once in school, I developed a huge ugly pimple in the center of my forehead.  It was bright, colorful, and obvious.  The other kids started to call me, “unicorn.”

I stood out.

Christians might not have facial features that cause us to stand out, but there is something about us that is obvious.

The Lord’s Name is on our forehead.

Not a tattoo, obviously.

But how we act, how we present ourselves to those around us, and how we face our day.

In our world of lawsuits, grudges, and winning every encounter, instead we stand out if we forgive.  Not just to be nice, but because we know the value of forgiveness.  We have experienced the necessity of forgiveness. We have learned forgiveness from our Lord’s countenance.

Wouldn’t it be grand if, instead of reputations for legalism, Christians had a reputation for forgiveness?  What if, instead of being known for judgmentalism, we were known for grace and patience?  How different would we be, if instead of the world seeing us as demanding and angry, they saw on our foreheads love, kindness, and forgiveness?

What is on your forehead?

Joy

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. (James 1:2,3 ESV)

Joy

I have a new skill.  I am learning to play the bagpipe.  I practice regularly, but not enough.  Every once in a while, someone who knows I am working on this, suggests an opportunity to actually play the pipes instead of just think about it, and prepare. 

I KNOW that when I begin to actually use the bagpipes, I will be filled with Joy.  The ones who hear me early on, maybe not so much.

Forgiveness might be something similar.  Scripture is filled with commands, examples, and hints of the grandness of forgiving.  But usually we only think about it, and prepare.

We talk ourselves out of forgiving, though.  We convince ourselves to forgive later.  We find ourselves ‘almost persuaded,’ but not quite.

Perhaps this is one of the reasons God sends us trials.  Trials do not just happen.  Trials are usually caused by someone.  And so most trials are an opportunity to forgive.

And when we are able to choose forgiveness instead of our usual anger, self-righteousness, and grudge-nurturing… we can discover something.  Our relationship with the CAUSE of our forgiveness grows more steadfast.

And we get to have joy.

Trials are a source of Joy.  They teach us God’s fidelity.  They increase our faith.  They mold our character.

And they are an opportunity to forgive.