One of the most pleasant sounds in this world is the laughter of a baby. It is the sound of “pure” joy. Every eye in the room will turn toward that child, looking to see and experience what has prompted his joy.

Paul wrote Christian theology to the church in Rome. The book of Romans is one of the most important books every Christian should study to understand. In Romans 14, Paul wrote about the “kingdom of God.” That phrase can best be understood as “the place where the Lord rules as King.” Paul said that honoring God as our King is not a “matter of” customs but instead is a matter of “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

We have so often defined our “witness” as the things we don’t do more than those things Paul said were the best indicators that a person lived with God as their King. Our witness is mostly about our “righteousness and peace and joy.” That witness emanates from the work of the Holy Spirit. He wants to lead us to serve Christ because that is the life that is “acceptable to God and approved by men.”

Our joy pleases God like the infectious laughter of a young child attracts all those gathered in the room. Joy is infectious. Righteousness, being right with God, marks a person’s life as belonging to God. And peace—unhindered trust in God’s perfection—is a powerful witness to others.

Paul taught the church, “Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.” Pleasing God is wisdom. When he is King of your life, you will walk “right” with him, having his peace and his joy. That is a life that finds favor with God and man. We are called to pure laughter, pure joy, so that the world will want to experience whatever— or, in our case Whomever—has caused it.