VIBRANCY

I Was Just Thinking About – VIBRANCY.

An obvious definition of vibrancy is: “pulsating with vigor and energy, exciting, stimulating, lively.” The British Dictionary adds: “giving an impression of vigor and activity.” One would hope and desire that most Biblical Christians would manifest a positive indication of their personal joy in the Lord. After all, the Gospel is that one has been delivered/liberated from death unto life in Christ alone. In that fact, one should rejoice always.

Years ago, in the Hee-Haw television program, one of the feature songs by Buck Owens and Roy Clark had the lyric:

Gloom, despair, and agony on me;

Deep, dark depression, excessive misery.

If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all;

Gloom, despair, and agony on me.

Regrettably, some professing Christians have more expressed regrets then exuberant rejoicing. They give greater expression to gloom and despair than they do to blessings and rejoicing.

A Sunday School Motion Chorus from years ago involved the children singing:

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.

If you’re happy and you know it then your face will surely show it.

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.

The song would progress to stamping of feet, standing and shouting, etc.

One of the truths that should be remembered is stated by Ezra, Nehemiah and the Levites after the people had heard the reading of the Law of the Lord. In Nehemiah 8:9-10, the people were encouraged to respond in a positive way: “Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all: This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep. For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said: Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Do you believe this and live according to the instruction?

Paul reminded the believers, Philippians 4:4. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Barnes Notes on this text states: “It is the privilege of Christians to do this, not at certain periods and at distant intervals, but at all times they may rejoice that there is a God and Savior; they may rejoice in the character, law, and government of God – in his promises, and in communion with him. The Christian, therefore, may be, and should be, always happy.” This should be done with exuberance, vigor and vibrancy.

Prayerfully – consider these things with me!