March 20, 2021 CAC Living Water Devotional : Topic – HAPPINESS OR SORROW?
Read previous CAC Living Water Devotionals here
CAC LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE.
Saturday, March 20, 2021.
(International Day of Happiness)
HAPPINESS OR SORROW?
Read : 2 Samuel 15:27-30
MEMORISE: He heals the broken hearted, and binds up their wounds (Psalms 147:3)
EXPOSITION
As the world celebrates the International Day of Happiness, may the joy of the Lord envelope our lives in every respect, in Jesus’ name. In the world, one can only be in joy or sorrow at a time. Experiencing the two at the same time isn’t real, to though the purpose of God is that we be in joy.
Happiness or sorrow is caused by people, events, and majorly, through actions of one man to the other. The Isrealites were in pains through the actions of King Pharaoh who was pain to the Isrealites, a thorn in their flesh. Hannah was emotionally tortured by Peninah due to the former’s inability to have a child. Though, not Hannah’s making, Peninah used the ugly situation Hannah found herself to mock and afflict her. Why do you use your joy to sadden others?. Should affluence be used to afflict others. Why becoming big suddenly and others are exposed to shame and ridicule by you?.
King Saul was a sorrow to David, despite the good deeds of the latter to him; he was not going to allow the purpose of God to see the light of the day in the young man’s life. Absalom’s and over-ambition caused his father pain: he made the king to walk barefooted and mounred uncontrollably (2 Samuel 15:30). Why should your actions been causing other people around you pains? For instance, is that young man working under you being treated fairly? Should what give you joy and happiness become source of sorrow to others? No, of course.
On the other hand, for the oppressed being deprived of the happiness they deserve by the selfish, only the joy of the Lord can give you true happiness (cf. Neh. 8:10). Imagine the imprisoned Apostle Paul writing to the free brethren outside to continue rejoicing in the Lord (Phil. 4:4). That is what the joy of the Lord can do in a man. However, only those who accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior have access to this kind of joy that is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). Remember, whatsoever a man sows, that he will reap.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. I receive the joy of the Lord that would make me truly happy regardless of the situations of life I go through, in Jesus’name.
2. Lord, take away anything that causes me sorrow from my life, and give me joy in exchange.
3. Pray for those who have challenges around you that God in Heaven will undertake for them in Jesus’ name.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Deut. 3:17 – 5:2; Mark 15:35 – 16:9