It has been said that joy and gratitude are infallible signs of the presence of God. Christians have often been accused of being lacking in these qualities and there is some truth to the accusation. If we believed in our heart of hearts that we are loved unconditionally by God and that we are invited to spend eternity with Him it should be evident in our speech, actions, and on our faces. A heart that is joyful and grateful cannot at the same time be bitter, angry, resentful, or depressed. Gratitude is a spirituality and way of life. As a spiritual practice, thank God for at least ten things before going to bed each night. The list will get longer each day.

After John the Baptist's fiery preaching we might expect him to make harsh demands of his listeners to prepare for the coming of the Lord. Nothing of the sort - he demanded only simple justice. Share what you have with others, especially food and clothing. Meet their needs. If you are in a position of authority don't abuse power. Don't extort, threaten, or oppress. In other words, live the golden rule. If you do that you will be prepared to meet God. This is expressed throughout the Bible - true religion consists in compassion, justice, and kindness. The label we have - what we call ourselves or what others call us - is not that important. How we treat others reveals who we are and what sort of relationship we have with God.