MY LIFES MEANING & PURPOSE CAMPAIGN, 10/22/13 DAY 37: Joy Is Not Earned but Given and Received Devotional Reading: Ecclesiastes-9:7-10. Key Verse: Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do (9:7). Wow, we can smile at verse 7 because of the statement that we refer in the New Testament as the New Covenant: Gods new provision for living. It is clear that God has given us a gift of approval of righteousness. By faith, we are freed, and no longer have to struggle to please God. We live in a way that does please Him because we have already been accepted and approved by Him. Hear the verse again, Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do. This is recognition of a relationship of righteousness that has already been established. It is true that basis was laid in our Lords coming into this world and in His death and resurrection. Faith in God through Christ Jesus made believers righteous. Thus, it is certain and possible that we can have a life of joy and significance on the basis of this truth. If you want to find significance in your life, if you want to find deep meaning, peace, and contentment, this is the basis of it: Believe what God has given you already and live your life to the full. Fill it with all that is of value, reason, and worth. There are two symbols that were used by Solomon to describe our new relationship, our practical righteousness and good deeds: white clothes and oil. White clothes is a symbol that we ought to represent Christ while oil refers to Holy Spirit at work, so dont let oil be lacking on your head. Thus, here is a life filled with the Spirit, full of good works, flowing out of the realization that God already accepts us. That is the new basis for living (Read Romans 6:14). We are encouraged to live a normal life. Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all your days. God ordained marriage for that reason, and it is right to enjoy the fullness of marriage. And then enjoy your God-given work. Work is not something we are forced to do in order to keep alive. Work is a blessing. Do it with all your might. Do not just get through it the best you can so you can get home and start enjoying yourself. Many of us live that way, but that is not the biblical way. The biblical approach is that work is given to you as a gift of God, so enjoy it. Today, thank God that He has approved our works. Ask Him to teach you to live your life each day with joy the many gifts that you give. Remember, we do not earned Gods approval, it is given and received. We do not need to struggle to get His approval. Just please God now.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 10:50:08 +0000
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