Everyone wants to be happy, and people follow many avenues trying to achieve it. They work hard to accumulate wealth. They buy fancy cars and luxury-filled homes. They sign up for self-improvement programs. They get involved in a cause. The list goes on and on.
But that’s the wrong list. The right one is found in Matthew 5. Jesus describes the way to deep and lasting happiness: being right with God. He said we are blessed, or happy, when we are:
- Poor in spirit – recognizing our spiritual bankruptcy without God and our spiritual wealth with Him.
- Mourning – realizing the awfulness of sin and being genuinely sorry about it.
- Meek – demonstrating self-control, even when we are mistreated.
- Hungry and thirsty for righteousness – longing to be holy and pure.
- Merciful – showing mercy to others, just as God shows mercy to us.
- Pure in heart – being single-minded and sincere in our devotion to Christ.
- Peacemakers – sharing the peace Christ offers, and promoting peace with one another.
- Persecuted – being willing to suffer for Jesus’ sake.
Pursuing happiness? Do it Jesus’ way. – J. David Branon
Happy are they who love the Lord,
Whose hearts have Christ confessed,
Who by His cross have found their life,
Beneath His yoke their rest. – Anon.
Happiness depends on what we are, not on what we have.
- November 23, 1990, Our Daily Bread
For You 