True Happiness

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. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

Psalm 1:1-3

SOMETIMES YOU HEAR Christians talk about their Bible reading as if it were the equivalent of eating their brussels sprouts so they can have dessert later. What a shame. And how very far from the truth it is! The Scriptures are the gracious revelation of who God is, what His plan is for us and for the world, and, not least, just how much He loves us in Christ. What could possibly be more relevant and exciting than hearing from the God of the universe?

But the goal here is not to guilt you into reading the Scriptures more or to chastise you for the ho-hum attitude you may sometimes bring to your Bible reading. It’s to suggest that you may not be thinking about Bible reading the way the Bible itself says we should: with great delight!

Setting aside the distinction that is sometimes made between happiness and joy, Psalm 1 describes a happy man—not a guy who’s just a little happy but a man filled with delight. And all because this man loved reading the Scriptures. We can safely assume he read them not in a detached, impersonal way but in a highly personal and enthusiastic way—as if the God of the universe were speaking to him (which, of course, He was). We’re told this man meditated on the Scriptures “day and night,” and the result was that he prospered. God’s Word is a great gift, and reading it is a delight.

BOTTOM LINE

Reading the Bible should be a joyful experience. And it will certainly bear good fruit in your life. Ask God today to give you a passion for His Word.

Moment of Strength: Psalm 1