Your Best Weapon Is Your Teeth

So how much would you pay for a piece of cardboard - $100 . . . $500 . . . $2,000. Actually, people do it all the time - if thatcardboard is a valuable baseball card. Now, my sons have really profited from collecting that cardboard strategically. They triedto anticipate rookies who would be stars and bought their cards before there was much demand. Later, when lots of peoplewanted those cards and there weren’t many to be found, our guys cleaned up. Doug did so well that his cards actually helpedpay his way through college. He didn’t have any of those cards that sell for thousands - they’re most valuable for one reason -there just aren’t many of them. You have something like that.

There’s an asset that is increasingly rare in our world today - and if you have one, it will make you really valuable wherever youare. Apparently, the Old Testament leader, Nehemiah, was known for this asset - so much so, that his boss noticed when he didn’t have it.

Our word for today from the Word of God comes fromNehemiah 2:1ff.Now, Nehemiah works for the king - he’s the king’scupbearer -and he’s pretty down because of news he’s gotten about conditions back home. The Bible says,"I took the wineand gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before. So the king asked me, ‘Why does our face look sosad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart."

Nehemiah wasn’t smiling - and apparently, that was an event. Remember, this is the man who said,"The joy of the Lord isyour strength" (Nehemiah 8:10).From the king’s reaction, it appears that Nehemiah stood out at work for at least one bigreason - his consistent smile.

A smile is a powerful, attention-getting witness for Jesus Christ. Remember, baseball cards are valuable when they’re rare. Smiles are increasingly rare today. Just look around you - most people are looking pretty joyless most of the time. I rememberour daughter Lisa’s first day of high school. She came home and said, "No one smiles there!" So, we challenged her to try tochange that and she made it a personal mission to have her smile be her trademark. Years after she graduated, teachers wouldstill tell us how they remembered Lisa’s smile. And partly as a result of the joy on her face, Lisa saw ten of her high schoolfriends come to Christ.

Don is a businessman I know who was asked, "How can you be so positive all the time?" His smile opened the door for him tosay, "Wouldn’t you be happy if you’d just spent 30 minutes with the Creator of the universe?" People like this get to experiencethe life-giving scenario described inI Peter 3:15 - "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you togive the reason for the hope that you have."Now, what’s going to make people curious about what - actually Who makes you tick? Your hope, your positiveness, your smile.

And this kind of joy begins in Jesus’ presence every morning, where you see your Lord being so much bigger than yourcircumstances - soHedetermines your attitude for the day. And if you are the joyful one in your situation, you will inevitablyhave a chance to explain the relationship that brightens your life.

If you’ve ever wondered, "How can I get people interested in Jesus?", have you considered the power of a positive spirit whereyou work? At home? At school? Believe me, you’ll stand out in a world where smiles are getting more rare - and morevaluable - all the time. Each day, ask the Lord to help you be known for your joy - forHisjoy radiating on your face. When itcomes to attracting people to Christ, your best weapon may be your teeth!

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Today's Daily Wisdom is written by Ron Hutchcraft, based on his popular radio broadcast,"A Word With You"."A WORD WITH YOU" daily devotionals are now available via e-mail. To subscribe send a blank email to:awordwithyou-subscribe@hutchcraft.com,or to request the "Yours for Life" booklet, fill out the form on this site:http://www.gospelcom.net/rhm/yours/yflorder.html. Ron Hutchcraft Ministries has been on-line with Gospelcom since February, 1996, providingpractical answers to real life issues. (c) 2000 Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc.PO Box 400, Harrison AR 72602