Recently, I heard a pastor on the radio make the assertion that humans are the only creatures on the earth who can laugh, who can weep, and who have the ability to blush. As it is that we are creatures and not animals, laughing, weeping, and blushing are reflections of our creature-hood. For the Christian, these emotional responses should reflect the inner joy, compassion, and purity of the holy One who saved us.
First, our laughter... you can tell much about a person by what he/she thinks is funny. One's sense of humor is a telling spiritual barometer of an individual's values. When we laugh at sexually suggestive situation comedies, our soul's enemy is pleased, for he has an inroad of compromise established. When we think it's funny for people to be hurt in "reality shows", we're well on the way to a calloused heart. And, with Ephesians 5:4 in mind, we who name the Name of the Christ should never cause others to laugh at the coarse and crude by telling such kinds of stories ourselves. Matthew 12:36,37 should produce shock & awe.
As for weeping..."Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." (Romans 12:15) Men, in general, can find it more of a challenge to express emotion than women...yet our Savior, the perfect Man, is our Model in His weeping compassionately, manfully (John 11:35, 36).
Too, there are often tears which accompany grief over one's past (Luke 7:37,38). Tearful repentance as a result of the Holy Spirit's work of brokenness has the winsomeness of godly sorrow that is precious in our Lord's sight.
"Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No! They were not ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the LORD." (Jeremiah 6:15 NKJV) Loss of personal holiness, and with it the loss of shame and modesty, caused the people to fall into brazen rebellion and idolatry. Mistaking the LORD's longsuffering for approval, they continued in their disobedience until His patience reached its limit. Confronted with the depths of their depravity, they could no longer blush, so habitual was their practiced sin.
Such a needed word of warning! Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall...
First, our laughter... you can tell much about a person by what he/she thinks is funny. One's sense of humor is a telling spiritual barometer of an individual's values. When we laugh at sexually suggestive situation comedies, our soul's enemy is pleased, for he has an inroad of compromise established. When we think it's funny for people to be hurt in "reality shows", we're well on the way to a calloused heart. And, with Ephesians 5:4 in mind, we who name the Name of the Christ should never cause others to laugh at the coarse and crude by telling such kinds of stories ourselves. Matthew 12:36,37 should produce shock & awe.
As for weeping..."Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." (Romans 12:15) Men, in general, can find it more of a challenge to express emotion than women...yet our Savior, the perfect Man, is our Model in His weeping compassionately, manfully (John 11:35, 36).
Too, there are often tears which accompany grief over one's past (Luke 7:37,38). Tearful repentance as a result of the Holy Spirit's work of brokenness has the winsomeness of godly sorrow that is precious in our Lord's sight.
"Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No! They were not ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the LORD." (Jeremiah 6:15 NKJV) Loss of personal holiness, and with it the loss of shame and modesty, caused the people to fall into brazen rebellion and idolatry. Mistaking the LORD's longsuffering for approval, they continued in their disobedience until His patience reached its limit. Confronted with the depths of their depravity, they could no longer blush, so habitual was their practiced sin.
Such a needed word of warning! Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall...
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