“For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many whole were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city.” Acts 8:7,8
There was much joy in that city. Did you catch that? Joy in the City.
This concept captivates my heart. What would it be like to have a city full of joy because of the life of Jesus and the proclamation of the Gospel? When Phillip brought the message of Christ to the people of Samaria, it had a considerable effect upon them.
Unclean spirits were cast out.
Paralyzed and lame people were healed.
And, there was a notable sense of joy in the city.
That puts a smile on my face. I am captivated with the idea that a city could resonate with the life of Jesus to the degree that there is a tangible tone of JOY. Does the message that we proclaim today have a similar effect?
If not, then perhaps we’ve forgotten that the Good News is supposed to be…well…GOOD NEWS.
What would “joy in the city” look like in the place you live?