Positive Christianity

February 6

(Acts 2:46-47 NIV) "They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, {47} praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.”

(Romans 15:13 NIV) "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

(Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV) "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children {2} and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

The new believers were positive people. They were “Praise the Lord!” kind of Christians. They had good things to say about each other and about their neighbors. They were short on gossip and long on encouragement. They built one another up instead of tearing one another down. They loved each other with the love they had received from the Lord. And it was noticed. Scripture says they enjoyed the favor of those around them, and the church grew. Positive people draw crowds. Positive people inspire us. We like to be around positive people. It’s easy to be a negative critic. It takes spiritual maturity to be a positive witness in the face of a negative world. But God can help. Maybe it’s time to change your attitude and become the kind of Christian who draws people to the Lord, instead of fulfilling all the negative stereotypes the world has about the church. It’s a matter of the will. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day