What is God’s Plan Happiness?

Happiness in Your Life

Happiness can be very difficult to describe for many. Though we desire to have happiness for ourselves, some search the world over, but are still unable to find happiness in life. Why is it that the multitudes do not find peace, tranquility and happiness? Could it be that they are seeking in all the wrong places, such as riches, fame and popularity? Each time these are obtained, they are found to be empty in regards to lasting happiness and real joy in life. We need to notice that these are the things of an outward nature, while we need to realize that God’s formula for happiness comes from within our hearts. God does have a place by which all can find happiness, but He promises it from His perspective and not from our own.

how can a life be full of happiness

How Can a Life Be Full of Happiness?

The keys for true happiness can be found in the thoroughly furnishing Scriptures given by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3). We receive happiness and peace in life by being sure our actions are in harmony with God’s Word. With this said, let us notice six types of individuals who seek to find a happy life.

1. Some want to be in the family of God without being born again, which is an impossible way to happiness (John 3:3-5). Instead of being saved by faith only, Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). The inspired apostle Peter said, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:22-23).

2. Some want to be happy without seeking the grace and peace from Jesus, which is only found in Him and His church (Philippians 1:2; 2 Timothy 2:1). We must focus our lives on forgiveness and hope if we are to find lasting happiness (2 Timothy 1:1-2).

3. Some want happiness without being thankful, for the gracious blessings of salvation, the talents given to us to use and the church built and purchased by Jesus (Ephesians 1:3; Romans 1:21-22; Philippians 1:3-5).

4. Among others things, people are privileged souls, who many times will not and do not submit to the Master of life, Jesus Christ (Luke 6:46; Matthew 7:21-29).

5. These, who attempt to find happiness, refuse to live a humble and faithful life, following the attitude and mind of Jesus (Philippians 2:5). They think too highly of themselves and their importance, to bow their knee in confession to the King of kings and the Lord of lords (1 Timothy 6:15). Such an attitude makes folks miserable as they wallow in their self-pity.

6. Many think they will find happiness in always complaining and murmuring at the providence of God (Philippians 2:12-14). These hold grudges against their fellow-man and are upset by every small thing that happens to them. This attitude is guaranteed to bring misery, not happiness (Philippian 4:6-7).

God has assured us that if we seek in the right way, happiness will be found. This happiness will not be in the form of money, cars and homes. The happiness that God provides is found when we bring ourselves in harmony with His word. Let us all follow His word as it guides us through life and leads us to a home in Heaven with our Creator.

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Spurs

Spurs

Spurs are a tool most people associate with the cowboy. The spur fits or is strapped to the heel of a boot and extends back varying lengths. Some spurs are simple straight shanks (necks) ending in a point. Others have a rowel (wheel with points) at the end. Usage of spurs dates back to the Celts, Romans, and Arabs. Above all other uses, the predominant historical usage of the spur is as a prod to guide a rider’s horse. Specifically designed for battle, the spur enabled the rider to busy his hands with weaponry while maneuvering his horse with his spurs and legs. Spurs have additionally been worn for looks or style, being a variety of metals, jeweled, or designed to jingle. Another usage is to indicate rank or class; in fact, the phrase “earned his spurs” looks back to a time when spurs were awarded those who were knighted. Spurs were even awarded by the Pope to those belonging to the militia group “The Order of the Golden Spur”.

do you need spurs put to you

Do you need Spurs put to you?

Considering the predominant usage of the spur as a guide or prod, there are some helpful Biblical applications which can be made. The words exhort, beseech, provoke, and encourage are similar to the word spur and the Bible uses these terms quite often. The apostle Peter exhorted the people on the day of Pentecost toward salvation:

 Acts 2:40 – And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation.

The apostle Paul exhorted the Thessalonians to live in a way that would please God:

 I Thessalonians 4:1 –  Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk, – that ye abound more and more.

The writer of Hebrews exhorted Christians to “exhort one another daily” so they would not be overcome in sin:

Hebrews 3:12-13 – Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God: but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin:

Christians could be called the spur of God. They are to prod one another to love and good works and not let up:

Hebrews 10:24-25 – and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.

Spurs guide man to take the proper steps down the right path. It has been said that God must like cowboys because he made so many wide open spaces. Perhaps now, it can also be seen that God also appreciates good quality spurs.

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Beware of False Prophets

Beware!

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly…are ravenous wolves” (Mt. 7:15)

are you listening to false prophets

Are you listening to false prophets!

With every new year it seems that there is no shortage of people who predict the Lord’s return. This has especially been the case in the years surrounding  2000.  Many so-called prophets have given the days and times of the Lord’s return – and these have proven to be false time and again.  Jesus said, “…the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him” (Matt. 24:44).  He also said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32).  Now if Jesus Himself doesn’t know, how could man possibly know?   Moses said, “when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken…” (Deut. 18:22). Therefore, let us reject these false prophets, for they are proven liars.  And let us always be satisfied with the complete and all-sufficient word of God.

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Kindness? Always?

When People Mistreat You

I could quote the verse long before I really felt the impact God intended for it to have in my life. It was several years ago, when we lived in Birmingham, that one of my children’s Bible classes was memorizing short phrases from the Bible. The teacher asked for my help and I readily responded. Decades have passed, but I distinctly remember those six words of Paul and the impact they had on me. What were those words? “Be ye kind one to another” (Eph. 4:32).

remember kindness

Remember kindness!

The Bible demands kindness. We are told to be kindly affectionate to each other (Rom. 12:21); to be kind and forgiving (Eph. 4:32); to put on kindness (Col. 3:12) and to give all diligence in adding kindness to our faith (2 Pet. 1:5-7).

The Bible illustrates kindness. The lives of those saints of old show what kindness is, and we are amazed as we read about them. Joseph was kind to his brothers who sold him as a slave (Gen. 50:21); Moses was kind to the seven daughters of Reuel who were mistreated by the evil shepherds; David was kind to the crippled grandson of evil King Saul (2 Sam. 9); and the good Samaritan was kind to that stranger, beaten and bleeding, whom he saw beside the road. As we read these stories, we are amazed at how differently these saints reacted from the way we would have reacted!

It is so easy to be kind to some people. When people show kindness to us we readily respond kindly to them. Jesus described it in these words, “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?” (Matt. 5:46). The measure of our kindness is not determined by how we treat those who are kind to us.

It is so hard to be kind to some people. Those words of Jesus follow His words about how we should deal with our enemies, with those who curse us, with those who hate us and those who despise us, with those who out of spite take advantage of us and persecute us. We are to love them, bless them, do good to them and pray for them. Here is the measure of true kindness. It is manifested in how we treat people who are rude to us in the market place, to co-workers who mistreat us, to family members who aggravate us and to all those whose agenda seems to be to hurt us with words and deeds. Here is the measure of true kindness.

Kindness is not what we do, it is what we are. The reality is that if we wait until the moment of conflict with unkind people to decide what to do, we will likely respond unkindly. Kindness is a trait of heart, not an artificial action. Kind people do not have to decide to act kindly. This is their automatic response! It is who they are.

God help us to be kind one to another!

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A Reason to Change

Let us Reason Together

 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.  (19)  If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:  (20)  But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it…” (Isaiah 1:18-20)

reason to stop sin

Reason to stop sin!

Our Lord invited the unfaithful children of God to reason together with Him. They had forgotten the sovereignty of God. They had turned away from the One who had brought them up out of bondage and delivered them into that land “that floweth with milk and honey…” (Lev. 20:24) They had done that which even their domesticated livestock had not done – they had forgotten who their master was.

“Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.  (3)  The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider…” (Isaiah 1:2-3)

God had done so much for them, yet they forgot Him;  turned their back on Him; went in the opposite direction from Him.  “Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward…” (Isaiah 1:4)

Even with all this, the Lord pleaded with them to reason with Him. The word “reason” here indicates that God is calling (commanding really) for an end to His dispute with Israel over their sin. He offered them complete and total pardon. Though their sins were a red, bloody stain upon their lives, He would pardon them to point that the scarlet stain of their sins was washed away and the condition of their  souls were made pure once more. This reasoning was based upon all that He had done for them. This pardon was offered to those who would become obedient to His will. The offer of cleansing would not be extended to those who chose to remain in their sin.

Sin leaves a crimson stain upon all who give into it. Our sins mar the perfection of our souls; ruin our holiness; destroy our immortal souls. God calls on us to respond to His offer of salvation and cleansing. Let us reason based upon the love of God who “gave His only begotten Son” to take away the stain of our sins. When we apply the understanding of this great love and sacrifice, and our knowledge of the “mercies of God,” surely it must cause us to want to give our reasonable response to that perfect sacrifice.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  (2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God…” (Romans 12:1-2)

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