Joy in the Sharing
Psalm 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation
© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 40646880
“What kind of a bird is that?” a friend at church asked excitedly while pointing toward a nearby tree. It was just a typical female Northern Cardinal, yet I experienced a spark of joy as I provided the answer! Not because a cardinal is an overly exciting bird, but simply because someone asked me about a bird!
Over time, things can become stale. When migration ends and we’re left with the usual summertime residents, birding can become boring. As our bird lists get longer, lifers are harder to come by and our joy wanes.
In much the same way, our Christianity can also become lukewarm over time. The joy fades with the same Bible reading plan year after year; the same pastor standing in the pulpit Sunday after Sunday; the same few members doing all the work. Church activities become just another check box on the daily to-do list. Is that you?
In the book Good Birders Still Don’t Wear White, bird guide Carlos A. Bethancourt gives us a clue how to break that boredom and restore joy: “When I see the joy and delight on the faces of the birders – some first-timers to the neotropics – I often think back to my first sighting of that species, and it’s nearly as exhilarating for me as if it were my lifer as well. My excitement is in the sharing.”
The Lord Jesus commissioned us to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel.” This command wasn’t solely for the growth of the church, but for our own sakes! Jesus knows the exciting rejuvenation and joy that we’d experience in sharing the gospel. There is nothing better than stepping out in faith and sharing your testimony with a stranger to exhilarate your Christian walk. Has your Christianity become lukewarm, stale, or boring? The joy is in the sharing!
Like other iNat projects which bring together groups of people based on a shared identity, the Christian Naturalists Observations Project is for like-minded Christian naturalists to share their observations as they explore God's marvelous Creation. iNaturalist rightfully promotes acceptance; a courtesy that should be extended to all groups. Therefore, this project is not intended to exclude or reduce any group of people or their contributions to iNaturalist. All are welcome to join and participate.
Comentarios
Power message! Thanks so much for sharing! I really needed that message. It is really true. The joy of our Christian walk can start fading. But by sharing our faith it can be rejuvenated!
Wow! As prestonthomas said, I really needed to hear that! Thank you so much !
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