Is Your Faith Contagious?
Friday, September 12, 2025
“When it is the Lord’s work in which we rejoice, we need not be afraid of being too glad.” - C.H. Spurgeon
For 22 years, Deanna and I attended a great Bible-believing church in Moorestown, New Jersey. We started going there shortly after we got married and all of our kids grew up there… making friends, attending Sunday School, enrolling in Awana, and participating in youth group.
My ministry office was even located in the church balcony for about 15 years!
In fact, we were so involved in our church that when we decided to relocate from our small Cape Cod in Pennsauken to a larger house to accommodate our growing family, we placed a dot on a map where our church was located and drew a small circle around it. Simply put, we wanted to move closer – not farther away – from our true “home”, which was our local church family.
One of the members of that church family was a man named Roy. He served on the deacon board for many years, and I remember him frequently wearing a bright yellow sports jacket. However, despite his penchant for bright-colored clothing, his personality was anything but cheerful and outgoing. In those 22 years, I don’t think I ever saw Roy – or his wife – crack a smile a single time. Their adult son, who occasionally attended church and sat in the same pew with them, had the same reserved and dour way about him.
I am sure that Roy knew the Lord and is rejoicing in His presence today. I just wonder why Roy didn’t practice some of that rejoicing while he was here on earth.
My friend, as Christians whose sins have been forgiven, we should be the most joy-filled people on the face of the earth. Remember that people who will never crack open a Bible are constantly “reading” you. If you are cold and cranky, they will not want what you have. But if you are constantly upbeat and optimistic – even in the midst of trials and troubles – they will be drawn to you like moths to a flame.
Let’s all be contagious Christians, spreading the Good News of Jesus wherever we go… and with a broad smile on our faces!
“Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
