Greg Laurie Daily Devotion - Apr. 16, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Want to Be Happy?
Jesus replied, "But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice."
—Luke 11:28
Did you know that you can have a happy life without sin? A happy life without drugs and alcohol? A happy life without extramarital sex? A happy life without selfishness? God is not out to ruin your life. He wants it to be fulfilled. And when you are living as a follower of Jesus Christ, the happiness doesn't stop when the party is over.
Psalm 19:8 tells us, "The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. . . ." And Jesus said, "But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice" (Luke 11:28). Keeping the Word of God makes you happy.
But some people have the opposite view. They think God is out to make their life miserable, while the world is where you will be liberated and have all of the fun. But the very opposite is the case. The world will bring you misery and bondage. Instead, it is the freedom of following Christ and living by the Word of God that will bring you true and lasting happiness. You have God's Word on it.
Psalm 1:1-2 tells us, "Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night." The Psalm continues, "But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind" (verse 4).
So we have a choice: Either we can follow God's Word and live a happy and fulfilled life, or we can disobey it and reap the consequences. If you want to be blessed, if you want to be successful spiritually, then you must love and study the Word of God.
Copyright © 2010 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
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- God can be glorified through human suffering
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