| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “What the world needs now” Our Bible verse for today: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV) Our thought for today: “We have what they need” I recently read that sociologists (scientists who study society) have concluded that ours is a depressed culture which has what they termed “a dampened spirit.” Forty-one percent of Americans have struggled with some degree of mental illness at least once in life. Twelve percent are on a long-term (or even lifelong) treatment plan that includes antidepressants (including twenty-four percent of college-aged students). Beyond that, even among those who are not clinically depressed, record numbers of Americans report struggling with elevated levels of stress, anxiety, and despondency on a regular basis. This, even though we live in the most affluent society in the history of the world, with the highest standard of living and the most creature comforts any society has every had. And yet … and yet, we are unhappy. We have a dampened spirit. The 2025 World Happiness Report ranks the USA twenty-fourth on the scale of happiness among the nations of the world (our lowest ranking ever), behind such countries as Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Netherlands, Costa Rica, Norway, Israel, Luxembourg, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Belgium, Ireland, Lithuania, Austria, Canada, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, United Arab Emirates, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Evidently even with all our wealth, possessions, technology, and creature comforts, we still are not happy. Instead, the problem is getting worse. Our happiness ranking continues to decline. However, not everyone in our society fits that profile. There is a group that is doing much better than the average. That’s what Peter was writing about in 1 Peter 3:15. Committed Christians who actively practice their faith have substantially higher levels of satisfaction and fulfillment than the general population. Fifty-six percent of Christians who seriously practice their faith report being very or extremely happy and satisfied with life overall. We have hope and happiness that is found in Christ. The love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that the Apostle Paul wrote about in Galatians 5:22-23 is a reality in the lives of committed Christians. That’s the fruit of Jesus (the character of Jesus), becoming increasingly evident in their lives and that is what makes all the difference. People all around you need what you have. They need Jesus. I encourage you to share Jesus with someone today. We don’t need more stuff, we need more Jesus. God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville |
| Copyright © 2025 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571 |
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