I was listening to the radio Tuesday morning on my way to work, like I always do. This particular station has a really funny morning show that I like to listen to. Every once in a while when I’m listening, I hear a “devotion” minute from a local preacher. I always enjoy if I catch this devotion because the preacher always has something good to say.
Tuesday was the first day that the devotion stuck with me all day. The preacher asked “Have you ever experienced malicious joy?” I thought, what in the world is he talking about? Malicious means spiteful, so how can joy be spiteful or malicious.
The preacher went on to give different examples.
--Hearing about another person’s misfortune or hardship and thinking, “Better them than me.”
--Seeing a co-worker, who is constantly doing the wrong thing, finally get caught by the boss, and feeling that they are “getting what they deserve.”
--Any type of happy feeling you feel when another person is in trouble, having a hard time, etc.
This really made me think about my own self. I can think of times in the past when I have thought these things. I have thought “better them than me”. I have thought that someone has “gotten what they deserve”. Have I been living with malicious joy?
Then the preacher went on to say that rather than think these thoughts, we should think of the real source of our joy, Jesus, focus on Him and pray for the people who are in the particular situation.
This has totally changed my way of thinking. I am no longer going to think these thoughts. When I find myself in a situation that could lead me to think these particular things, I am going to stop right then and pray for that person, in hopes that they too can know what true JOY is all about.
These things I have spoken to you, that my JOY may be in you, and that your JOY may be full. John 15:11
Tuesday was the first day that the devotion stuck with me all day. The preacher asked “Have you ever experienced malicious joy?” I thought, what in the world is he talking about? Malicious means spiteful, so how can joy be spiteful or malicious.
The preacher went on to give different examples.
--Hearing about another person’s misfortune or hardship and thinking, “Better them than me.”
--Seeing a co-worker, who is constantly doing the wrong thing, finally get caught by the boss, and feeling that they are “getting what they deserve.”
--Any type of happy feeling you feel when another person is in trouble, having a hard time, etc.
This really made me think about my own self. I can think of times in the past when I have thought these things. I have thought “better them than me”. I have thought that someone has “gotten what they deserve”. Have I been living with malicious joy?
Then the preacher went on to say that rather than think these thoughts, we should think of the real source of our joy, Jesus, focus on Him and pray for the people who are in the particular situation.
This has totally changed my way of thinking. I am no longer going to think these thoughts. When I find myself in a situation that could lead me to think these particular things, I am going to stop right then and pray for that person, in hopes that they too can know what true JOY is all about.
These things I have spoken to you, that my JOY may be in you, and that your JOY may be full. John 15:11
2 comments:
What a great post! This is definitely food for thought....
Your "What Makes Me Think" thought has made me think. Thanks for sharing, it challenged me.
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