A common way to greet someone is to ask, “How are you?” While this seems like a way to connect with people, I have often questioned its purpose. “Are you really interested in knowing? Or is this just a polite way to start a conversation, or are you just interested in obtaining personal information?” For many, it’s a simple way to say hello. For others, it’s a sincere desire to connect with you personally. I avoid people who want information only, who feel empowered by their knowledge, and will pass it along the gossip train.
At a church I once attended, the ushers greeted you at the door. They would say, “Welcome,” then ask, “How are you?” During those days, I often worshiped on my guitar, singing new songs to the Lord (Psalm 149:1). I learned that offering heartfelt praise and thanksgiving to the Lord is the pathway to being filled daily with the Holy Spirit (Psalm 22:3, Eph. 5:18-19). So, instead of coming to Church to be ministered to, I came filled with the life of His presence.
So, with joy and a smile on my face, I would answer the greeter, “I am wonderful!” The response was disbelief, as if to say, “No, Roy, really, how are you?” I wondered: do they think I need help? Do they know something I don’t? Or is it that when someone actually smiles and says, “Just wonderful,” it can’t really be true? After all, who ever heard of a smiling, joyful Christian filled with the Holy Spirit? It seems we love the concept more than actually living the abundant life we have in Christ. It is almost like a dream rather than a Biblical reality.
So, I thought, “I will test the waters.” I decided the next time I went to church and was asked, “How are you?”, I would give them a weather report. So, the following Sunday, when asked, “How are you?”, I responded, “I am feeling blessed; it’s sunshine with clear blue skies.” I got the same confused look. The following Sunday, I gave them a different weather report. When asked, I said, “Well, for me it’s cloudy today, and I am looking for the sunshine.” I got the same response. I always wondered: Why did they ask if there is no real engagement?
Aren’t we supposed to be Christians filled with faith, hope, and love? Doesn't Scripture say the Kingdom of God is peace and joy in the Spirit? Isaiah 60:1-3 tells us to rise and shine with the light of God’s glory. When Jesus said, “Let your light shine” (Matthew 5:16), He wasn’t talking about your works for God, but about the work God has accomplished in your life: the workmanship that displays His divine nature and the light of His presence, so others may see and glorify God. His light can reach the darkest places.
For example, when I am in Pakistan, I stay at a favorite hotel. The staff knows me well and is always happy to see me. I act the same way there as I do here, walking in God’s presence, overflowing with joy. One day, the hotel manager asked me to come to his office. As I sat in a chair across from his desk, he said, “Roy, you are like a battery!” Confused, I asked, “What do you mean?” He replied, “You are like a flashlight battery; your light is always shining.”
I was stunned. Here was a Muslim man who loved his god, complimenting me, a Christian. With tears in my eyes, I could not fathom the depth of favor my heavenly Father was bestowing on me. I learned that, whether they were Christians or Muslims, the hotel staff recognized and honored those who exemplified Christ-like behavior.
Even today, when people ask me, “How are you doing?” I respond, “I am wonderful, excellent, wonderful, marvelous, terrific, and awesome,” and then add, “Praise the Lord.” Whether it is a stranger at the grocery store or anyone who asks, I give the same genuine, heartfelt response. Many of these people are unbelievers, yet their faces light up with a smile.
In these uncertain times, people are looking for hope. I could respond with a simple "Great,” which says it all, or the conventional “I am well.” But when I offer my alternatives with a smile, they smile back, and many say, “Thank you; you just made my day!" Like waves of God’s grace, others listening are struck by the truth that a living God exists (or perhaps this guy is nuts!).
At my favorite coffee house, the staff already know what I'll say when they ask, “How are you?” With a smile, they personally deliver my order to my table and offer gestures of appreciation that simply say, “I am happy to see you.” These people have varied backgrounds, political affiliations, and religious beliefs. But one thing connects us all: God’s unconditional love. Our conduct, which reveals the Lord’s divine nature, His peace, love, and joy, is a powerful means of evangelism (Colossians 1:27).
Friends, you don’t need a pulpit or a visible ministry to impact others' lives for the Kingdom of God; just let your light shine, and the Holy Spirit will do the rest.
In His heart with love, Roy Roden
