SOMETHING MORE THAN HAPPINESS Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing (Romans 15:13). THERE IS A REAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAPPINESS AND JOY. Happiness is that condition which is dependent upon the circumstances of our life; joy exists in spite of the circumstances around us. Ask almost anyone what his main purpose in life is, and almost invariably the answer is “happiness.” Most of us, however, are not sure what we mean by happiness. Usually it is related to the conditions in which we are living. Joy is very different. It can exist when all else seems wrong and disturbed. “Joy” is closely related in its root to the word “grace.” Grace is defined as the unearnable, unmerited, unqualified love of God. When a person knows that God loves him just as he is, and accepts His grace in Jesus Christ, then he knows the precious experience of joy. Most of us fluctuate and are cast to and fro within by our changing emotions. What a volatile, unsteady picture of life we often present! We need a deep experience of joy which does not change as our emotional condition changes. The New Testament opens with joyous exultation over the birth of Christ and ends with joyous hallelujah choruses over the love, forgiveness, and power of God which have been released through Christ. Open the New Testament anywhere and you hear a note of joy struck in the midst of unfortunate and discouraging circumstances. One should trace our Lord’s progress through the countryside by the joy He left behind in the lives of people who dared to accept His unchanging love for them. How about you? Are you a joyous person? Or have you lost yourself in the frantic search for happiness that does not last? -- Lloyd John Ogilvie.
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 00:16:42 +0000
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