One of my most favorite TV shows is The Andy Griffith Show which a began back on October 3, 1960 and ended on April 1, 1968.  Now I know many of the younger people today would not remember this show unless they happened to watch some the re-runs which air every once in a while on TV. My most favorite episodes were the ones where Don Knotts played the character Deputy Barney Fife. Sheriff Andy Taylor, played by Andy Griffith, was always having to bail Deputy Barney Fife out of one jam after another, yet he always did it in such a way that it would not crush Barney. More time than not, Sheriff Taylor would end up turning Barney’s mistakes into something that made Barney look good.

What I really enjoyed about watching The Andy Griffith Show was the type of comedy that it had. The situations Deputy Barney Fife seemed to always get himself into were always done with good clean humor. I don’t ever remember seeing any nudity, swearing, people being degraded, or political statements being made at every possible moment to make us laugh. Whenever the TV runs some of the old episodes of the Andy Griffith Show, I make sure I record them so I can watch them later. My wife is amazed at how many time I can watch the same episode, which I have seen over 100 times, and still laugh at the same old things.

Laughing and expressing joy is not something many of us do enough these days, with all the horrible news on TV, and in the newspaper that bombards us on a constant basis. The other day I was walking across a parking lot when an old friend of mine came up and said something which rocked me. They said once they recognized it was me, they hesitated to come up and say hello, for I looked like I was in a pretty bad mood. The reason what they said shocked me was because that day I felt I was actually in a very good mood , but obviously I forgot to inform my face about that.

Proverbs 15:13 “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.” After my  friend and I quit visiting, the Holy Spirit began to speak to my heart. You see, there were thing and situations taking place in my life at that time that I thought I had pushed them down to the corners of my heart, but the strain there were putting on my life, was obviously there for all to see. One of my commentaries says about this verse: “A bright hope within will sometimes do more to restore the wasted strength than all the prescriptions in the world. If Christians could get living hope lighted within, and let it beam like sunlight all the day through an open countenance (look or expression) their lives would be more legible as epistles of Christ, and more effectual to win souls“

Jesus said in John 15:9-11 “As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you. Now remain in My love. If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed the Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete“

Looking at old re-runs of The Andy Griffith Show over and over and laughing at all the same good clean humor that takes place in those shows, may be good for the moment but it must not be from where my joy comes from. Psalm 118:15 “Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!” As much as I love to laugh at something funny on any episode of The Andy Griffith Show, my joy must only be found the mighty things the right hand of the Lord has done in my life.

Our daily prayer must be as David’s in Psalm 86:4 “Bring joy to Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul” Life and people can be very cruel at times, which make it very difficult for our face to express joy. What would you say is resounding in your tent at this time? Are shouts of joy and victory being heard and seen on your face by all? The Apostle Paul says it best in Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!“