Good Morning Friends,
Sometimes people storm into the church, insisting that the church should live up to the pattern offered by Jesus. Sometimes people expect ministers to walk on water. They rock the boat, and in so doing they force the church to remember its reason for being when we face the faith, filth and fluttering of the human heart. Too few understand the dramatic picture of the relationship between spiritual authority and genuine humility. The challenge is to embody the correct answer to today’s question. So, What Constitutes True Happiness And True Holiness?
Scripture: While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had indeed married a Cushite woman); and they said, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it. Now the man Moses was very humble, more so than anyone else on the face of the earth. Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.” So the three of them came out. Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the entrance of the tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forward. And he said, “Hear my words: When there are prophets among you, I the Lord make myself known to them in visions; I speak to them in dreams. Not so with my servant Moses; he is entrusted with all my house. With him I speak face to face— clearly, not in riddles; and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed. When the cloud went away from over the tent, Miriam had become leprous, as white as snow. And Aaron turned towards Miriam and saw that she was leprous. Then Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, do not punish us for a sin that we have so foolishly committed. Do not let her be like one stillborn, whose flesh is half consumed when it comes out of its mother’s womb.” And Moses cried to the Lord, “O God, please heal her.”
Numbers 12:1-13 (NRSV)
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. After the people of that place recognized him, they sent word throughout the region and brought all who were sick to him, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
Matthew 14:22-36 (NRSV)
Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat.” Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.” Then the disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.”
Matthew 15:1-2, 10-14 (NRSV)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5: 3-12 (NRSV)
Message: Sometimes the storms of life seem to overtake us, even when we are obedient. Such is life. Such is the Christian life. You see we are not called to a life of ease, but one that is full of dangers and pitfalls – only we have the assurance that God is with us to see us through. When He draws near amid the storms of our life, we do not always recognize Him. We, like the disciples in that little ship, are troubled and fearful. We are like Moses and are humbled. But as ever, God draws near in our trouble. He brings justice but more often a word of good cheer, and that vanquishes fear and teaches us about holiness. Friends, holiness is not a popular message today. One of the reasons it is not popular is because of the misconception people have of holiness. Many still equate holiness with rules and restrictions. But living holy is not about what you wear and how you dress, or about the length of your hair, or even the outward blessings you may have. Holiness is the character of God. It is the nature and love of God. And we attain a sense of it when we are content. Jesus was the perfect example of holiness. He was holy because he was ruled by love in all things. Every thought, word, and deed he ever did was motivated by love. Every act of His life was a contribution to the glory of God. Even the miracles He performed were not so much to prove His own deity, but out of a love and compassion for humanity. What constitutes true holiness is this love in us. Not just pity for those in need but mercy acted upon.
And So, with love true happiness becomes true holiness or at the least byproducts of each other through a relationship with Jesus. They like the beatitudes can be a little counterintuitive and despite what some might say, do not create, in their perfect form, a holier than thou character. Holiness and Happiness exist as a state of delight and the more we experience them the greater our pleasure and humility. Here we mourn our sins and make peace with our past. Here happiness and holiness converge as a blessing that glorifies God.
Pray we express the unselfish joy of Jesus in our hearts. Pray we realize that we each can be a treasure hold of love. Pray we express the peace of right relationships. Pray we express patience as a sign of our access to Jesus’ holy life. Pray we express gentleness as a witness to love. Pray we express goodness because God is good. Pray we animate the lives of others because our faith expresses a love of hope that believes. Pray we walk in the Spirit of contentment. Pray we never lose control of our temper but with temperance, manifest good fruit and the true holiness and happiness of love which is the key.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 