True Happiness
Be Strong, Be Well — Sunday, February 28, 2021
“Blessed” appears over 300 times in the New King James Version of the Bible. There are a variety of different ways this word is used and translated. One is of special interest to us. It indicates happiness or blessedness.
What makes a man blessed or happy according to the Bible?
In the very first verses of the book of Psalms, we read, “Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night” (1:1, 2).
We see right away the blessed, happy person is one who does not do certain things. True happiness avoids sin and any closeness to it— thus, keeping distractions and the allurements of sin far away from us.
How is this done? By meditating upon God’s word on a daily basis. This involves a deep concentration in our reading and study of scripture. This is how faith is developed (Romans 10:17). A strong faith keeps us from sinning. “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…”.(Proverbs 23:7).
People in the world have no idea about true happiness. The majority thinks sinful things make a person happy. But it’s just the opposite. “Good understanding gains favor, But the way of the unfaithful (transgressor ASV) is hard” (Proverbs 13:15). “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered” (Psalm 32:1).
“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage” (Psalm 84:5). No one, can live a happy, blessed life without trusting in God and His Son, who established the church, which is His body. —Chris