Daily Encouragement Net (Print Version)

“Encourage one another daily” (Hebrews 3:13).

A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

"Are You Gellin?"

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4). "Be joyful always" (1 Thessalonians 5:16).

There's a TV commercial that been airing a lot lately that gets my attention. I am sure many of you have seen it. It's for a gel pad that goes in your shoes. The ad shows various people going through life's minor adversities that would make most people angry or tense. But they're shown with a pleasant, relaxed smile because their feet feel so good. They're gellin!

One spot shows a minor traffic accident and the two drivers meeting to exchange information. Now in a case like this we would expect a heated, angry exchange. But the driver that caused the accident asks the other driver if he is OK. He says, "Yes" with a relaxed look and the first driver says, "You must be gellin!"

As I watch these ads I believe they describe the outlook we that follow Christ should have. We all will inevitably encounter the many minor annoyances that make up life, which can distract and rob us of the blessing of rejoicing (gellin spiritually).

I stress minor annoyances because actually Paul wrote the first verse from prison, while dealing with a degree of adversity most of us do not know. He modeled this "jellin" when he was beaten and imprisoned in Philippi in Acts 16, as he and Silas "prayed and sang hymns to God." I wrote about this last week.

Both of the daily verses stress this outlook as the attitude believers are to experience. Both are expressed in the present, active, imperative calling us to continual and habitual action. The believer is called to rejoice. Today, are you gellin?

Be encouraged today,

Stephen C. Weber

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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.

Personal Mission Statement: “I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God’s Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life’s goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity.”

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