PASSING ON THE BATON, NO. 11 - DO IT WITH A SMILE

Those who seek to live righteous lives before their families and fellowmen do not help the cause of Christ by being overly serious or having a "stiff upper lip." "Holier than thou" attitudes that cause others to feel condemned and worthless turn people away from Christ.

Happy, rejoicing, and glad-hearted fathers are a great advertisement for Christ Jesus. The next generation will gladly receive the baton of biblical values from fathers who daily display the joy of the Lord. Stern, fault-finding, critical people are very difficult to live with, even if they go to church regularly. Christians who rarely smile look as though they have been "baptized in lemon juice" as someone has said. People who think that holiness is best displayed on a straight face that would crack if it smiled have completely misunderstood true holiness.

Holiness is a state only made possible through the blood of Christ. It is a heart that grieves over sin but greatly rejoices of God's grace, mercy, and goodness.

Men, just as a diamond is best displayed on a beautiful, shining ring, even so God's principles, laws, and values are best displayed on the countenances of Christians whose faces shine. When Stephen "full of faith and power" spoke about Jesus it tells us that "all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel." What do our family and others say about our faces?

Men, you can be a dedicated Christian and still keep a genuine smile on your face.

Keep smiling.

Colin Campbell