08/12/2019
Are we happy in our service of God? Does His Son Jesus give us delight as we go about our days? The world can bring us sorrow and unhappiness, but when we turn, or return, to the Lord, and concentrate on His righteousness, we are immediately filled with His peace and joy. God gives reason for all the earth to rejoice in Him.
“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!”
Psalms 97:1 ESV
It is so easy to turn our attention to the world when we are being pursued by its travail, and demons have beset us. It is hard not to look at those who do not serve God, and mistake their present successes in their lives for lasting happiness, but what have they traded for such things? Is their short lived pleasure worth the eternal price they must pay? However, we the faithful will rejoice and be glad, not in the things of the world, but in the eternal promise of heaven, and a divine life with Jesus Christ, and God.
“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 6:19-20 ESV
We don’t just dance about outside the temple walls, or sacrifice our inner temple for a fleeting taste of pleasure. We long to enter the Holy of Holies, and into the presence of God. Our faith is steadfast in the Lord, and we not only take delight in serving Him, but Trust in the certainty of His love, and the promise of His security. This is our joy, and our delight.
“I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.”
Psalms 16:8-9 ESV
The delight we feel in our obedience, and relationship with the Lord is not ours alone. God and His Son Jesus delight in us as well. Just as we sing Psalms of praise to them, they sing in their joy for us too. They sing for those who remain faithful to their commandments, and they rejoice in those who were lost, but now return in contrition from lives of sin.
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17 ESV
Our gift, and reward, in serving God is more than a life absorbed in traveling the way of the sinner, and enjoying the present pleasures of the world that seem so enticing. We don’t require drunkenness, elicit sexual pleasure, or the other things offered by Satan to find happiness. No... our joy is full, real, and eternal, and it awaits us in the presence of God, where we don’t have to sacrifice ourselves mentally, spiritually, or physically, to achieve it. Jesus leads us along the path of righteousness where we don’t suffer remorse for the dignity, or morality we have sacrificed.
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Psalms 16:11 ESV
Have you been faced with a temptation that you have given into? It doesn’t have to be sordid, or exceedingly debase for it to have caused you to turn from God... even for an instant. Maybe it was a night of drunkenness with friends, a sexual thought like David had towards Bathsheba that you did not act upon, or merely entertaining the thought of taking advantage of someone in business. These, and so many others are the things that cause us shame when we look in the mirror of our faith. These are the things that we try so hard to keep secret from God, but know we can’t.
I am the worst liar... on my grandfather’s farm was a pack-house used to store implements for the farm, and beneath it was a root cellar where potatoes, and apples were stored in straw during the winter months. There was an outside door by which you could enter the cellar, but there was also a trap door that led from the pack-house proper down a steep wooden ladder into that mysterious place. Out of fear, my mother gave me strict instructions not to go into this out-building. It was a dangerous place for little boys, but oh so tempting to them. She feared that I might get hurt in some way, or break my neck by falling through the trap door, but in my eyes this was an adventure, a place of wonder and imagination, and that trap door was just about the coolest thing in the world. So one afternoon I slipped away and played there until dark... I was in a secret place of immense pleasure, and it was all at once my fort, my castle, my pirate ship, a super hero’s lair; it was everything the mind of a little boy could imagine... and more.
As the sun slipped down on the horizon I heard my mother’s distant voice calling me to dinner. So I put everything back in its place to conceal my presence there, and slipped out the cellar door so as not to be seen from the house... it was the completion of the perfect crime, and the return of the super hero back into his normal life. I ran to the house and jumped up on the porch where my mother awaited, and as we walked towards the kitchen she asked “Where have you been?” This was an everyday question, but on most days I could innocently tell her. Today it was different... I had to cover up my disobedience, and although I had concocted a good story... “In the woods Mom!”... she knew I wasn’t telling the truth. Like every mother I had ever known, she could read me like a book, and asked another question... “You haven’t been in the pack-house have you?” Well, I stammered a bit, and looked at the floor. I had already disobeyed her, and then lied to her once... how far was I willing to carry this? So in absolute embarrassment, and a somewhat disingenuous remorse for having gone to the coolest place on earth, I confessed.
Well, I went to my room with several swats to my rear end still stinging mightily as I went, and it wasn’t until it was time to tuck me in for the night that I was taken to the kitchen and fed. As I ate, without looking her in the eye, I was talked to about obedience, and lying, then I was told how much she loved me. I told her I was sorry, and with a much needed kiss, and a hug, the joy and happiness returned. I slept without guilt that night, and it was wonderful. Secrets from God, are even harder to keep than those from mothers, and although the guilt and shame are much the same, the return to righteousness is even more joyous, and comforting when God hugs us and forgives us. I know this is hard to imagine, but it is true!
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”
Psalms 37:4-5 ESV
When we are contrite, God never withholds dinner from us, or refuses us a hug and kiss before bed, and although we may have disobeyed, perhaps lied to Him, or even let go of the hand of Jesus to sin somewhere we shouldn’t have, His mercy and grace allows joy and happiness to return, and for us to enter into a happy and sound sleep at the end of the day.
Are you ready to rest soundly in the innocence of a forgiven child? Are you ready to let God’s joy and happiness sing you to sleep?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for seeing my heart, and convicting me in my sin, but most of all Father, thank you for the conscience that you have instilled in me, and the forgiveness you readily give when I come to you in contrition, and enter into your grace. Help me Holy Father to always have the heart of a child... your child... and to be like Jesus as I walk in this world. Teach me to repent, and to come to you with the contrite heart of a child before it’s parent. Teach me of the joy that follows confession, and the happiness that flows from the release provided by your forgiveness. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God, my Father, and the Redeemer of souls. Praised be your name as Jesus stands with me before you, and washes me clean in your presence. Great are you whose Word is Life, and in whose love I will live forever. Gracious are you Father, and precious is your grace that covers me with your glory forevermore.
“He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.”
Psalms 18:19 ESV
Rich Forbes