June 30, 2022

The Almost Daily will be on Summer Vacation until August 8th. But fear not! You will receive a devotional each Monday through Friday from the excellent Mockingbird Devotional entitled Daily Grace. Enjoy! - Paul Walker

“I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11)

“Nip it in the bud!” That was one of Don Knotts’ iconic lines from The Andy Griffith Show. Knotts played Barney Fife, Deputy Sheriff of Mayberry, a hyper-zealous “Bloodhound of the Law” whose greatest joy was to catch someone in an infraction. He would frantically spout codes and ordinances, blow his whistle, and yell, “Break it up! Break it up!” When he caught someone in the act, it was obvious that some deep need for approval was being met.

We tend to think that God finds His greatest joy in enforcing the law. What joy it must give the Almighty to intervene whenever someone is having too much fun. This was made painfully clear to me soon after I was ordained a priest. My wife and I were invited to a backyard pool party. We were new to town and excited to make new friends. When we arrived, the party was going strong. Folks were casually dressed, relaxed, swaying to the music. Lots of laughter, drinks, and good times. But when we walked into the backyard, a friend of the host stepped forward and announced, “Hey, everybody, the priest is here! Hide your beer! Ha ha ha!” We’d arrived to join the party, not to kill it! But their impression of clergy, and probably of God, was that we were there to “nip it in the bud!”

The people who spent time with Jesus thought just the opposite. He was repeatedly accused of creating a party where none was allowed, of eating and drinking with sinners, of breaking the religious rules. He was accused of having too much fun. Those who came to know Him best found a joy they had not previously thought possible. The ultimate purpose (telos) of His coming, His ministry, His teaching, His life and death, was to bring joy. That’s hard to believe. But what wonderful news! C. S. Lewis wrote, “Joy is the serious business of Heaven.” Jesus is serious about this. His purpose was not to “nip it in the bud” but to complete our joy.

[Drew Rollins, Daily Grace - Mockingbird Devotional Vol. 2]