2 Tim 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
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WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21
Esther 5:9-13
Luke 10:19-22
"… take the world
but give me Jesus..."
WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?
Haman went away from the first banquet merry and glad at heart. But when he saw that Mordecai did not bother to show him respect, Haman turned furious. Arriving home, Haman called for his wife, Zeresh, and some friends. He bragged to them about his great possessions, number of children, and his promotion above all else. He added to the list how the queen invited none other except him to be her guest with the king, not once, but twice. But Haman said that all these were useless to him as long as Mordecai existed.
The queen’s personal and exclusive invitation inflated Haman’s sense of self-pomp. But, in an instant, his mood changed when he met Mordecai on his way back. It went from joyful and glad to a poisonous rage against Mordecai. To boost himself from this unpleasant encounter, he summoned others so that he could boost his self-importance by reciting to them his great fortune, virility, stratospheric career advancement, and how he was now in the queen’s most private and elite circle. But the very thought of Mordecai’s disrespect for him made all these of no meaning to him again. Haman’s mood depended upon whether he got what he wanted, no matter what he already had.
When we derive our joy from self-aggrandizement, we will have mood swings all the time, like Haman. What brings you joy? If it be position, power, admiration of men, being saluted, or a sense of being part of an elite club, then you too will be like Haman. There is never an end to such lust. For the believer, when our joy is based upon having Christ alone, we will not be easily swayed. But when we depend upon earthly things and man’s praises in order to be happy, we will never be satisfied because there is always one more thing, one more thousand dollars, or one more praise that we must have in order to be happy enough. As the hymn writer well reminds us: "Take the world but give me Jesus, all its joys are but a name."
THOUGHT: Are spiritual things a necessity for my joy?
PRAYER: My Lord and my God, let me find my joy in Thee alone.
Posted in Adult RPG
Esther 5:9-13
Luke 10:19-22
"… take the world
but give me Jesus..."
WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?
Haman went away from the first banquet merry and glad at heart. But when he saw that Mordecai did not bother to show him respect, Haman turned furious. Arriving home, Haman called for his wife, Zeresh, and some friends. He bragged to them about his great possessions, number of children, and his promotion above all else. He added to the list how the queen invited none other except him to be her guest with the king, not once, but twice. But Haman said that all these were useless to him as long as Mordecai existed.
The queen’s personal and exclusive invitation inflated Haman’s sense of self-pomp. But, in an instant, his mood changed when he met Mordecai on his way back. It went from joyful and glad to a poisonous rage against Mordecai. To boost himself from this unpleasant encounter, he summoned others so that he could boost his self-importance by reciting to them his great fortune, virility, stratospheric career advancement, and how he was now in the queen’s most private and elite circle. But the very thought of Mordecai’s disrespect for him made all these of no meaning to him again. Haman’s mood depended upon whether he got what he wanted, no matter what he already had.
When we derive our joy from self-aggrandizement, we will have mood swings all the time, like Haman. What brings you joy? If it be position, power, admiration of men, being saluted, or a sense of being part of an elite club, then you too will be like Haman. There is never an end to such lust. For the believer, when our joy is based upon having Christ alone, we will not be easily swayed. But when we depend upon earthly things and man’s praises in order to be happy, we will never be satisfied because there is always one more thing, one more thousand dollars, or one more praise that we must have in order to be happy enough. As the hymn writer well reminds us: "Take the world but give me Jesus, all its joys are but a name."
THOUGHT: Are spiritual things a necessity for my joy?
PRAYER: My Lord and my God, let me find my joy in Thee alone.
Posted in Adult RPG