Should Christians always be happy? (With some more George Muller quotes)

 

 

 

 

I have been reading George Muller's exegesis of Deuteronomy 33: 26 - 29 this afternoon. ( from the book called, 'Can God be Trusted?' Published by Christian Focus Publications. )

Here is an excellent quote, " If we are unhappy the fault lies with ourselves. There is no reason why  we should not be happy children. Our Father loves us, and He will lead us safely through. Having such a Father it may well be said of us, 'happy art though oh Israel; who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency? (verse 29 below)  

These Israelites were happy because they had such a God. Look how He delivered them and saved them. It was He who delivered them from the Egyptians, who led them through the Red Sea, destroying the host of Pharaoh. It was He who led them through the wilderness, provided them with heavenly food and water from the rock, and finally led them into the land of promise. 

And remember that it is by Him that you and I are delivered from a worse power than Egypt: are delivered from greater enemies than the host of Egyptians and by Him we are led through the difficulties of this life. He is leading us until at length He will land us safely above. Ought we not to be happy, truly happy in the Lord? I ask you affectionately, is it so with you? Are you all happy Christians? You ought to be, if you will only look to Him. Trust Him with child like simplicity, and you will see how ready He is to help you and give blessing."  (unquote)

Perhaps this post would be better titled...How should Christians always find happiness? There are very real times of grief, testing and troubles, and yet if we are willing to patiently wait on our Lord in faith and trust, we will find happiness in looking to His face, in knowing His character....for it is only in knowing God that we can find true happiness! As Muller points our earlier in this book, God is our salvation by grace, He is our portion, our strength, our deliverer! Muller points out too that this passage was written at the time before the Israelites were safely in the promised land. Muller says, (quote) " Remember how God fought for them (Israel) time after time. How the sun stood still at the request of Joshua. How again, the elements from heaven fought for them; how stones were hailed from heaven upon the enemy. The hornets  were also by Jehovah used for the destruction of the enemies. In various ways Jehovah fought on their behalf, and showed His mighty power in leading His people to posses the land." (unquote) God is also the eternal God who stays the same forever. The God who saves Israel, saves us, cares for us and looks after us too.

Deuteronomy 33:

26 “There is none like God, O Jeshurun, 

who rides through the heavens to your help,

through the skies in his majesty.

27 The eternal God is your dwelling place,

and underneath are the everlasting arms.

And he thrust out the enemy before you

and said, ‘Destroy.’

28 So Israel lived in safety,

Jacob lived alone,

in a land of grain and wine,

whose heavens drop down dew.

29 Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you,

a people saved by the Lord,

the shield of your help,

and the sword of your triumph!

Your enemies shall come fawning to you,

and you shall tread upon their backs.”

Some of my Olive Shoots...

Psalm 127

Unless the Lord builds the house,

those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city,

the watchman stays awake in vain.

2 It is in vain that you rise up early

and go late to rest,

eating the bread of anxious toil;

for he gives to his beloved sleep.

3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

the fruit of the womb a reward.

4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior

are the children of one's youth.

5 Blessed is the man

who fills his quiver with them!

He shall not be put to shame

when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Psalm 128  

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,

who walks in his ways!

2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;

you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine

within your house;

your children will be like olive shoots

around your table.

4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed

who fears the Lord.

5 The Lord bless you from Zion!

May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem

all the days of your life!

6 May you see your children's children!

Peace be upon Israel!

 

Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Deteronomy6: 4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

We should learn a lesson from the old heathen artist!

From Grace gems again....

(J.R. Miller, "Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ" 1890)

"In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah . . . and his wife Elizabeth . . . Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly." Luke 1:5-6

This is a beautiful thing which God said of them. Yet, after all, that is the test which every life must endure. It is not enough to have human commendation. The question is--How do we stand before God? How does our life appear to Him? It does not matter how men praise and commend us--if God sees that we are living wrong. The Pharisees were righteous before men; but if you would see how they stood in God's eye--read the twenty-third chapter of Matthew: "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to Hell!" (verse 33)

We are in reality--just what we are before God--nothing less, nothing more! The question we should always ask ourselves is, "What does God think of me?" If we would meet His approval, we must first have our hearts right--and then we must be blameless and uptight in every part of our life.

One of the old heathen artists was chiseling the back part of his marble statue with great pains. "Why do you carve the tresses on back of the head of your statue so carefully?" asked one; "it will stand high in its niche against the wall--and no one will ever see its back." "The gods will see it," was the reply.

We should learn a lesson from the old heathen artist! We should do our work just as honestly, where it will be covered up and never seen by human eyes--as where it is to be open to the scrutiny of the world. For God will see it! We should live just as purely and beautifully in secret--as in the glare of the world's gaze!

There really is no such thing as secrecy in this world. We imagine that no eye is looking--when we are not in the presence of men. But really, we always have a spectator--we are living all our life in the presence God Himself! We should train ourselves, therefore, to live for the Divine eye in all that we do--that our life may stand the Divine inspection, and that we may have the approval and commendation of God Himself!

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account!" Hebrews 4:13




Grace Gems (choice ELECTRONIC books, sermons & quotes)

Grace Audio Treasures (choice AUDIO sermons)
Sovereign Grace Treasures (choice PRINTED books)

Seek my face

In the following verses I am reminded of the most tender of lovers gazing at each other....how much more does our Lord love us? Vastly more, for His love is eternal, never ending, bottomless and perfect in every way!

Psalm 27:8-9
8You have said, “Seek my face.”

My heart says to you,

“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

9 Hide not your face from me...

The most beautiful words in the world are the words of God... for they are true and they abide forever, what joy!

Psalm 90: 12 

So teach us to number our days

that we may get a heart of wisdom.

13 Return, O Lord! How long?

Have pity on your servants!

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,

that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,

and for as many years as we have seen evil.

16 Let your work be shown to your servants,

and your glorious power to their children.

17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,

and establish the work of our hands upon us;

yes, establish the work of our hands!

Isaiah 54:
5 For your Maker is your husband,

the Lord of hosts is his name;

and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,

the God of the whole earth he is called.

13 All your children shall be taught by the Lord,

and great shall be the peace of your children.

verses 10 -12 are also a great encouragement too .

Isaiah 61:3

to grant to those who mourn in Zion—

to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;

that they may be called oaks of righteousness,

the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for He is with me.'

Here is an extract from the children book, "Comfort for a Child's Heart. The 23rd Psalm &  Bible Promises" By David and Helen Haidle.

"There is a Valley of the Shadow of Death in the Land of Israel. The four mile long valley wall rises hundreds of feet in some places. Wolves, wild dogs and snakes hide in this valley. This is the most dangerous part of the journey on the way to the best highland pastures.

Sometimes the path is too narrow for a sheep to turn around, sometimes a wide gully cuts part of the path in half, sheep must jump across the gap to follow their shepherd!

Sheep never walk through this dark valley alone if they stay close to their shepherd. He knows the way. He has been there before.

Jesus experienced pain, suffering, and trouble even death on a cross. He understands how you feel. He knows everything you face. And He is with you no matter what happens"

Disabiltity: Is it part of God's design? Read a free book online:

2 Corinthians 4: 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison

http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/online-books/just-the-way-i-am

This is an excallnt book for you to read to your children. Do you recognise some of the children from the blogs I follow?