48 When the Gentiles heard this, they WERE GLAD AND HONOURED THE WORD OF THE LORD (Whatever steals your joy is not of God); Acts 13
We said yesterday that anything which STEALS OUR JOY OR BRINGS A HEAVINESS TO OUR HEART may not be from the Lord, after all there is no sadness in heaven. We listed many negative actions and experiences engaged in by the religious people who opposed Paul’s teaching about the new dispensation introduced by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
On the other hand the Bible does often speak about the JOY BELIEVERS SHOULD HAVE IN THE LORD. In one chapter in Proverbs (15) four statements are made regarding the blessings of JOY AND CHEERFULNESS.
13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
but heartache crushes the spirit.
15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
23 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply –
and how good is a timely word!
30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones. Proverbs 15
On a completely different occasion we see great REJOICING in Jerusalem when Solomon dedicated the Temple of the Lord.
65 So Solomon OBSERVED THE FESTIVAL at that time, and all Israel with him – A VAST ASSEMBLY, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. They CELEBRATED IT before the Lord our God FOR SEVEN DAYS AND SEVEN DAYS MORE, fourteen days in all. (Perhaps this was a forerunner on earth of the wedding banquet in heaven) 66 On the following day he sent the people away. They blessed the king and then went home, JOYFUL AND GLAD IN HEART FOR ALL THE GOOD THINGS THE LORD HAD DONE for his servant David and his people Israel. 1 Kings 8
Religion has devised a completely false picture of the God we serve, who wants people to be happy and enjoy serving Him. Even under the Old Covenant God blessed the people when they were devoted to Him. We should beware anything that comes to rob us of our JOY or bring a heaviness of spirit, it may well be a snare of the devil.
Remember the words of Nehemiah,
10 Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, FOR THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH.’
11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, ‘Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.’ Nehemiah 8
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.