01/09/2019
Are you happy? By this I mean are you confident with your life to the point of being blissful and happy without nary a care, or unfulfilled desire... like a child whose parent loves and cares for them perfectly? Do you think this is even possible? Well, in God and Jesus Christ it is more than possible, but you must give all your cares over to God, and place all your desire in Jesus... knowing you are Theirs like family, and that They will watch over you.
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
Jeremiah 31:33 ESV
Before Jesus was born, God put His law into the people of Israel, and then He promised them something incredible; He promised that they would be His people. We breeze over this as we read the book of Jeremiah, but the implications of this are wonderful indeed.
Have you ever been a member of something, perhaps a fraternity, sorority, company, or some organization in which once you were accepted the other members pledged their undying loyalty and support for you? No? Well how about your family, do you feel this way about your parents, siblings, or extended family?
I have four other siblings, and for the most part we took each other for granted as we were growing up. As young children we never wondered who we would play with, or on many occasions... who would annoy us, but moments later, no matter how irritated we would become with one another, we were always family, and the very depth of that love was always the undeniable foundation of our lives together; even through the ages, unto death.
My next younger brother and I would often fight like cats and dogs, but despite our bantering, and even physical fights, it never went so far as to destroy the love and dedication we had for one another. One day a kid in the neighborhood made the mistake of picking on my brother. This boy was bigger, and thought he could bully him without recourse, but unfortunately for him I found out about it. I made a bee line to his house and physically confronted him (got right up in his face) where I made it very clear that if he ever did that again there would be hell to pay... and the problem was solved. You see, I could bully and fight with my brother, but not someone outside the family. When siblings fight there is always an underlying love and relationship that is all important, and irrevocable. This is what God was telling the Israelites... you are my people; we are family, and there is great comfort and peace in that belonging. This belonging is the basis for happiness, being satisfied and comfortable in life, and resting in the love that is undeniably there... like a deep and irreversible current of righteousness, it is ever flowing on.
So in the time of Jeremiah God gave Israel laws and made them His people, but in the time of Jesus, God gave us (Israel and Gentile alike) the fulfillment of that law and made us His sons and daughters. Listen to the words of Jesus:
“"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
Matthew 5:17 ESV
“And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."”
Matthew 12:49-50 ESV
We have gone from being God’s people to His children, and our desire and happiness has been secured in that association. Spurgeon describes it wonderfully in this way...
“The music blown from sweet instruments or drawn from living strings can never yield such a melody as this dear promise: “I shall be their God.” Here is a deep sea of bliss, a shoreless ocean of delight. Come , bathe your spirit in it.” - Charles Spurgeon
If you accept what is being offered here in these scriptures, to be God’s people, and one of His children, then even though you might tussle with one another, or engage in sibling banter, the happiness of life, and a realization of your greatest desires will always be there.
Are we too busy wrestling within our family to realize the love and happiness that is right there underneath the surface? Are we taking for granted the promise we received when we became God’s people, and His children through Jesus Christ? Well, forget the childishness, and grasp the importance of what has been given. Trust in God to go before us in times of trouble, and Jesus to intercede for us, then be happy in this our wonderful relationship.
Prayer;
Father, thank you for not only claiming me as one of your people, but for Jesus Christ who fulfills your law, and makes me your child. Thank you Merciful Father for the happiness and realization of my deepest desire for relationship with you. In your great plan and will I have been adopted, and grafted, into the tree of life, and your Holy Family. In this way, how could I ever be anything but confident and satisfied in you? How could my life be anything other than complete bliss in your love? Help me Father to overcome my complacency, and never let me take our relationship for granted. In you all my dreams are realized, and my joy is made full. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who has made His Word of truth come alive in me, His love my greatest desire, and His joy my happiness forever. Praised be your name, and let all glory be yours forevermore.
“the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.”
Psalms 19:8-10 ESV
Rich Forbes