Thank God We Can Choose The Color!

The story is told of a college student who one summer decided that he would earn money for his tuition by selling Bibles door-to-door. He began right away by knocking on the college president’s door. His wife opened the door, the student explained to her what he was selling, and then she politely explained that her family didn’t need any more books.

As the student walked away, she saw him limping and she remarked, “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were disabled!” When the student turned around, she realized she had offended him. So she quickly added, “I didn’t mean anything except admiration. But doesn’t your disability color your life?” To which the student responded, “Yes, it does, but thank God I can choose the color!”

It’s encouraging to see that when Paul and Silas were imprisoned at Philippi, with their backs raw from the beatings they received, they sang hymns (Acts 16:19-25). They chose the bright color of praise, instead of the dark colors of depression, bitterness, and despair.

Beloved, no matter what affliction or crisis may come our way, we too can choose the color of our lives, in deciding “how” we will respond to it. By receiving spiritual encouragement from the inspired Scriptures, we can refuse to paint our lives with the dull gray of grumbling and complaining (Hebrews 3:6-13).

Rather, let us paint our lives with the bright and vivid colors of praise and rejoicing (Psalm 117:1-2; Romans 15:11; Philippians 4:4).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets