I was reading That Your Joy May Be Full A THEOLOGY OF HAPPINESS by Scott Swain today and he had the realization that Jesus is the mediator of happiness. What a wonderful truth that happiness is found in a right relationship with God. "Happiness" has been one of my core values I discovered through the values exercise.
I learned years ago via the Serenity Principle to be aware of my thinking, emotions, and moods - "Is this making me happy?" As I explained happiness to my wife she saw what I meant was "Joy" (a feeling of great pleasure and happiness). But I still stuck to "Happiness" (the state of being happy) because Joy comes from the state of being happy.
My favorite Bible verse growing up was "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice" - I loved singing that with each side of the room alternating "Rejoice, Rejoice and again I say rejoice"
So how is Jesus the mediator of happiness?
John 15:11-15 The Message (MSG)
11-15 “I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.
John 17:13-19 The Message (MSG)
13-19 Now I’m returning to you.
I’m saying these things in the world’s hearing
So my people can experience
My joy completed in them.
I gave them your word;
The godless world hated them because of it,
Because they didn’t join the world’s ways,
Just as I didn’t join the world’s ways.
I’m not asking that you take them out of the world
But that you guard them from the Evil One.
They are no more defined by the world
Than I am defined by the world.
Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth;
Your word is consecrating truth.
In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world,
I give them a mission in the world.
I’m consecrating myself for their sakes
So they’ll be truth-consecrated in their mission.
John 17:24-26 The Message (MSG)
24-26 Father, I want those you gave me
To be with me, right where I am,
So they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me,
Having loved me
Long before there ever was a world.
Righteous Father, the world has never known you,
But I have known you, and these disciples know
That you sent me on this mission.
I have made your very being known to them—
Who you are and what you do—
And continue to make it known,
So that your love for me
Might be in them
Exactly as I am in them.
What does the Bible say about happiness?
I learned years ago via the Serenity Principle to be aware of my thinking, emotions, and moods - "Is this making me happy?" As I explained happiness to my wife she saw what I meant was "Joy" (a feeling of great pleasure and happiness). But I still stuck to "Happiness" (the state of being happy) because Joy comes from the state of being happy.
My favorite Bible verse growing up was "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice" - I loved singing that with each side of the room alternating "Rejoice, Rejoice and again I say rejoice"
So how is Jesus the mediator of happiness?
John 15:11-15 The Message (MSG)
11-15 “I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.
John 17:13-19 The Message (MSG)
13-19 Now I’m returning to you.
I’m saying these things in the world’s hearing
So my people can experience
My joy completed in them.
I gave them your word;
The godless world hated them because of it,
Because they didn’t join the world’s ways,
Just as I didn’t join the world’s ways.
I’m not asking that you take them out of the world
But that you guard them from the Evil One.
They are no more defined by the world
Than I am defined by the world.
Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth;
Your word is consecrating truth.
In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world,
I give them a mission in the world.
I’m consecrating myself for their sakes
So they’ll be truth-consecrated in their mission.
John 17:24-26 The Message (MSG)
24-26 Father, I want those you gave me
To be with me, right where I am,
So they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me,
Having loved me
Long before there ever was a world.
Righteous Father, the world has never known you,
But I have known you, and these disciples know
That you sent me on this mission.
I have made your very being known to them—
Who you are and what you do—
And continue to make it known,
So that your love for me
Might be in them
Exactly as I am in them.
What does the Bible say about happiness?
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