Jump Start # 3920
Luke 12:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”
I started teaching the E3 Discipleship class book that Mark Roberts and myself have put together. Enjoyable, Easy and Effective are the three Es discussed in that study. A thought coming from those studies, “Is God happy?”
Have you ever thought about that? We know when we are happy. We’d like our children to be happy. My grandchildren smile and giggle when they are happy. But, how about God? Some may picture God as an old man who frowns all the time.
Our verse today states that God “gladly” gives the little flock the kingdom. Gladly. Not with a heavy sigh. Not reluctantly. Not pressured in to something He didn’t want to do. Gladly. Happily.
In the parable of the talents, both the five and two talent servants heard, “…enter into the joy of your master.” That sure sounds like happiness to me. On the final day of creation, God looked at what He had made and said it was very good. Pleased. Happy.
Consider:
First, a joyful and happy God makes us want to be around Him. In life as it is in Heaven, no one really likes to be around someone who is sour, unhappy and a misery to associate with.
We might ask, what makes God happy? There are so many things wrong. Churches dying. People walking away from God. Blasphemy everywhere. So much brokenness. But, if that’s all we see, indeed, what a pitiful place this is. But, think about Sunday. So many disciples gathering to sing praises to the God that they love.
The pure word of God being preached passionately by His people. Hearts being stirred to righteousness. Calm and peace filling the air. Hope driving out fear. Promises ringing true. Little hearts joining old hearts in praising the Lord and walking with Him daily. There is much to be happy about.
Second, a happy God wants His people to be happy. It’s not wrong to be happy. Smiling in worship is a wonderful thing. Now, we must stay in God’s lane. There are those who dump their marriage declaring that they are not happy and justifying it by declaring, “God wants me to be happy.” God is never happy when we choose to disobey Him. Our pursuit of happiness comes with following God. Ignoring God is what the devil wants you to do. Just be happy without any qualifiers leads to rebellion, selfishness and sin.
Third, a happy congregation is inviting. Walking through the doors to meet smiles, handshakes and hugs is a wonderful experience. I’ve seen the other side of that. You walk through a door to stares, frowns and what are you doing here? It makes a person want to turn around and walk out. A happy, welcoming congregation makes a person want to come back.
Happy disciples following a happy God—that’s our journey. Is every day pleasant? No. Are there trials and troubles that we close our eyes to? Never. But, even with all of that, our cup is overflowing and we are longing to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
I like to see a song leader that is smiling. It makes me smile. I like a preacher that smiles. It makes me smile. Now, some topics and smiles do not fit well together. But, the overall atmosphere ought to be that we are glad to be together.
A happy God …and walking with Him makes Him happy.
Roger