As the year 2009 was ending and the new year 2010 was beginning, I received the good will wishes of many who told me: Happy New Year! In return, I also bestowed the well intended wishes upon them. If the truth be told, neither of us have the power to bestow happiness upon anyone. It is only a desire. Even if strong, it is not enough to guarantee happiness. Where is the true source of happiness? How can we get it?
The true source of happiness is not a place, but a person. It is God! Blessing is the biblical language for happiness. It is to enjoy the favor of God Almighty with all the benefits: peace, joy, love, etc. God is the only source of blessing in the universe because blessing is directly tied to having a relationship with him. No one else can offer it! The question is how can I get it? It must be understood that blessings are bestowed by God upon his people by grace - unmerited favor. But far from thinking that there is nothing I must do to enjoy the blessings of God, there are conditions to enjoy them.
Psalm 1 gives two pictures to indicate the kind of person God blesses. On the one hand, it describes the person by way of what it ought not to do. In other words, it paints the picture of what a person lacking blessing does and says: "don't do that." He avoids walking in the counsel of the wicked, or standing in the way of sinners, or sitting in the seat of scoffers. Notice the progression from walking to standing to sitting. This is the picture of someone progressively being sucked in by evil as he seeks counsel for his life. By contrast, the second picture is of a person whose delight is in the law of the Lord and meditates upon it day and night - a tree planted by streams of water yielding fruit.
When I am confused and in need of counsel, I should run to my Great Counselor and listen to his Word. I am to avoid seeking counsel from the culture, the world, the tarot cards, the horoscope, even my own imaginations and feelings. God is the one who designed me and understands what I need. I must run to him. Seeking counsel from the wicked will only put me on a path of estrangement from God and miss out on his blessings.
If I want to have a true Happy New Year, I must make my relationship with God a priority. I must make his Word my source of counsel and delight in it day and night.
Father, fill me with your Spirit to desire your presence and your Word more than anything on this earth so that I may enjoy your blessings.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment