"There is no joy in the soul that has forgotten what God prizes."
Another way to say that might be, you will not be happy (joyful, content, satisfied, peaceful) if you attempt to find happiness in things that God deems unworthy of His happiness — or avoid the things that are happiness to Him.
So whether I am happy or sad, my heart needs examination:
- am I joyful for the same kinds of things and reasons that God is joyful?
- am I sad for the same kinds of things and reasons that God is sorrowful?
There is nothing like a concordance to help reveal the happiness of God. You might start your own search, but here are a few that come quickly to my attention:
God and Christ are joyful:
- over the repentance of sinners
- in crushing the Messiah
- in being crushed by God
- over their chosen ones
- over sacrificial service
- over humility
- to discipline children to produce righteousness
- for the prayers of righteous ones
- to give good gifts to their sons
- for the obedience of righteous ones
- for fruitfulness
God and Christ are sorrowful:
- over the unrepentance of sinners
- over disobedience
- over evil
- for believers living like the world
- over worry and anxiety
- over the anger of man
- over hypocrisy
- over idolatry
- over immorality
- for unfruitfulness
These are just partial lists, and abbreviated lists of passages. As an exercise, what other truths can you add to these lists? And what do the joys of your heart reveal about what you prize (are you really joyful, or are you self-deceived)? And what does your treasure reveal about the condition of your fellowship with God?
No comments:
Post a Comment