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Dial an Insult or Choose Joy

            To avoid pain and pursue pleasure is the number one goal of many Americans.  The ancient cynics used to say, "Pleasure is only the pause between two pains."  You long for something, which is the pain.  You get it, which is the pleasure.  It becomes a pause in the pain as you are given a moment to enjoy the pleasure.  Soon the pleasure is gone and the pain comes back again.  I am not sure I agree with it, but I suppose a comparison could be made.

            One thing I do know is that people often choose pain when they could choose joy.  I was shocked as an advertisement flashed on the television screen with a 900 number for you to "Dial an Insult." You dial this stupid number and somebody on the other end just insults you all over the place for $1.25 per minute.  I just don't get it.  I get insulted enough every day.  I certainly don't need to pay for it.  Most people insult me for free.

            I wish people could experience true Christian joy.  I believe they would choose it in a minute if they could experience it only for a few days.  The joy that God can give does not depend on outside things, but what is on the inside.  This joy is not based on the circumstances.  Its source is in the presence of the living Lord who lives within.  This is real joy, beyond pleasure.  I don't know why more people don't just choose joy.  Even many who call themselves "Christians" do not experience this kind of joy because they have not given themselves totally to God.  If you give yourself totally to God, Christian joy will be the by-product.  I guarantee it.

            Why not choose joy?  Make that total surrender to Christ and let God give you that sense of joy that only He can give, regardless of what is going on around you.