(Psa 45:7) You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.
Some people think being a Christian and walking with the Lord isn’t very exciting. They think about all the partying they would have to give up in exchange for changing their ways and going to church. The world has this picture of a holy person who looks like he just finished eating a sour pickle! They think being holy is being miserable and a fun-robber. They mistake sanctification for being sanctimonious, consecration for crabbiness, and holiness for heaviness. Too bad . . . because the Bible teaches that HOLINESS IS HAPPINESS!
The prophesy of the coming Messiah (Jesus) was that He would love righteousness and hate wickedness. And that’s what we’re supposed to do, too. (Psa 97:10) You who love the LORD, hate evil!
The result of the Lord’s righteous living was God anointing Him with the oil of gladness. Jesus was a happy person. For us, there is joy in being rightly related to God. (Psa 32:1) Blessed (O how happy) is he whose transgression is forgiven. And there is joy in an abiding relationship with the Lord. (Psa 16:11) You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore!
The happiness of the world quickly fades. (Heb 11:25) choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin. When the party’s over and reality sets back in and you take a good look at your life . . . your bottle of happiness is empty.
When you live life according to God’s Word and God’s ways, holiness will naturally transmit to happiness. When you fight against a total commitment of yourself to Christ then you will be miserable. What a choice we must make! (Deu 30:19) . . . I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.
The next time you think you’re missing out on all the “fun” the world has to offer, keep in mind that Christians can really be the happiest people on earth because HOLINESS IS HAPPINESS!
Louie
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