by Pastor Douglas Brauner

A Reason to Laugh

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Psalm 16:11 English Standard Version

I hope that you’ve been able to keep your sense of humor over the past year, or maybe even grown to appreciate humor. There hasn’t been much to laugh at, so when I saw this gorilla with a face mask, I had to laugh. I appreciate the store owner’s ability to laugh during a difficult time. It doesn’t matter to me whether this person thinks masks are of the devil or necessary to save lives, for a moment I laughed.

I hope you do too.

It’s time for us to reclaim our joy in Christ even in difficult times. It’s interesting how many of the writers of Scripture wrote about joy when they were struggling. Paul wrote to the Philippians to always rejoice in the Lord when he was imprisoned in Rome, a house imprisonment that lasted for nearly two years (Philippians 4:4).

Some of my best times during this year have been rejoicing in what I’ve seen God do in people’s lives, even in the midst of a pandemic. The Holy Spirit hasn’t stopped working. He has used live streamed worship services to spread his forgiving love around the planet. He has brought people back to the gathered community to celebrate his victory over death. What a joy it has been to again witness people receiving Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar with fellow sisters and brothers in Christ.

There is joy in God’s creation.

There is joy in God’s forgiveness.

There is joy in God’s presence.

I hope you laugh today because of the joy that fills your heart in Christ.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado