Fact Check, 55

~ Be Happy ~  

Bible Quotation?  ~  “God wants you to be happy.”

The Bible Says  ~  This is not a Bible quotation and the thought is not consistent with Scripture.  Sometimes it is the ugliness and pain of earth that brings a person to accept the truth of the Word of God.  The Christian should be constantly bringing praise to God and finding true joy and contentment in Him.

“God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:4-10).

The Significance  ~  “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Comment  ~  There is a significant difference between being happy and being joyful.  Happiness is dependent on circumstances while joy is internal from settled issues of the heart.  As a child I learned the J-O-Y acrostic: Jesus first, Others next, and Yourself last.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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