Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Rejoice:  We are Blessed with Spiritual Blessings
Habakkuk 3:17-19
Daniel Thomas

Orlando MTC, Orlando, FL

18. yet I will rejoice in the Lord;  I will exult in the God of my salvation.
 

Life in this imperfect world, populated by fallen people, gives rise to plenty of heart wrenching questions.  Why does God seem to allow violence and injustice to go unpunished?   Why do so many helpless people have to suffer endlessly?

Well, we don’t have to understand or question everything that is happening in the world around us as long as we trust in the One who is sovereign over everything.  We can choose, as Habakkuk did, to trust the Lord regardless of the trying circumstances we, or those we love, are dealing with.  Nothing needs to stop us from rejoicing in God.  C.H. Spurgeon says, “They who love God with all their hearts, find that His ways are ways of pleasantness and all His paths are peace.  Such joys, such brim-full delights, such overflowing blessedness, do the saints discover in their Lord.”
 

Joy is the state of delight and well being that results from knowing and serving God.  It is the fruit of a right relation with the One who created us.  It is not something people can create or earn by their own efforts. The Bible distinguishes joy from the words like happiness, pleasure, delight, gladness, merriment and enjoyment.  Paul referred to false teachers as “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Tim. 3:4).

 
The Bible also warns that self indulgent pleasure seeking does not lead to happiness and fulfillment.  The book of Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 records the sad testimony of the one who sought to build his life on pleasure seeking.  The search left him empty and disillusioned.
 

Joy in Christian life is in direct proportion to the believer's walk with the Lord.  They can rejoice because they are in the Lord (Phil. 4:4).  Joy is the fruit of a Spirit-led life (Gal. 5:22).  On the other hand, sin in a believer’s life robs the person of joy (Ps. 51:7-8, 12).  When a person walks with the Lord, the person can continue to rejoice even when troubles come.  Joy in the Lord enables people to enjoy all that God has given.
 

When our hearts are surrendered totally to the will of God, then we will delight in seeing Him use us in any way He pleases. Our plans and desires begin to agree with His and we accept His direction in our lives. Our sense of joy, satisfaction and fulfilment in life increases, no matter what the circumstances are, provided we are in the centre of God’s will.  Since He loves us so much we have much to be joyful for!

PRAYER

Loving Father, thank You for filling us with Your blessings and joy.  Help us to pass it on to others.  Amen

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
 
Joy comes from knowing Jesus.


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