What Makes You Happy?
Today’s Verse:
I think myself happy… ~Acts 26:2
A survey released on June 16, 2020, indicated that Americans were the unhappiest they have been in 50 years. Only 14% of those surveyed said they were happy. This is down from 31% in 2018. This same survey said that no less than 29% of Americans have ever called themselves very happy in a survey. While survey results are not accurately descriptive of everyone, it does tell us that out of the sampling that was done, there are many people who are not happy. A lack of happiness suggests to us discontentment, discouragement, emptiness, frustration, isolation, loneliness, and unfulfillment are the leading causes. While I believe that every Christian should be happy, I think the survey might be indicative of many Christians as well. So, the question for you is, what makes you happy? Paul said, “I think myself happy.”
We see the happiness is salvation.
“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full,” (John 15:11). When Jesus comes into our heart, the Lord sets our feet on a solid rock and places a new song into our heart, even praise unto our God. A saved person should be happy because his sins are forgiven, and Heaven is his home. He should be happy that the Holy Spirit indwells him. He should be happy because of the sweetness of fellowship with our Lord. Jesus desires that our joy – our contentment, our satisfaction, our rejoicing, and our fulfillment – is maximized in us. We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Be happy because you are saved.
We see the happiness in serving.
“If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them,” John 13:17. The context of this verse is Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. Jesus humbled Himself and exemplified the importance of “getting our hands dirty” and “touching the lives of people” to personally impact them. The hymn writer wrote “There is Joy in serving Jesus.” Serving the Lord is doing God’s will. Serving the Lord gives us a supreme purpose. Serving the Lord is allowing Him to work through us for the benefit of other people. Be happy in serving the Lord.
We see the happiness in speaking.
“I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews...” There is happiness in speaking about Jesus as his witness. One of the greatest joys I have is explaining the gospel to unsaved people and helping them to accept the Lord as Savior. The soulwinner receives in Heaven a crown of rejoicing. Then, there is happiness in preaching God’s Word. A man called to preach has a burning desire to declare the Word of God. He finds his fulfillment in his calling. Speaking about and for Jesus brings great happiness.
We see the happiness in suffering.
“If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified,” (1 Peter 4:14). There is happiness in our suffering. That is a paradoxical statement, but we can happily endure adversity because the spirit of glory and of God rests on us. God has a purpose that is being accomplished through our suffering. God’s grace sustains us in our suffering. God grows us through suffering. Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations. There is happiness in suffering. Paul exclaimed, “I think myself happy.” We need to be rid of the chains of sadness and negativity and “think ourselves happy.”
Have a blessed God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Matthew 5-6