February 26: Heavenly Happiness.

His Loving Interest in the Human Family.
"Rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man."--Proverbs 8:31, ESV

AT ALL TIMES and in all places Jesus manifested a loving interest in the human family, and shed about Him the light of a cheerful piety.--Messages to Young People, 405.

He reached the hearts of the people by going among them as one who desired their good.  He sought them in the public streets, in private houses, on the boats, in the synagogue, by the shores of the lake, and at the marriage feast.  He met them at their daily vocations, and manifested an interest in their secular affairs.  He carried His instruction into the household, bringing families in their homes under the influence of His divine presence.  His strong personal sympathy helped to win hearts.--The Desire of Ages, 151.

Jesus reproved self-indulgence in all its forms, yet He was social in His nature.  He accepted the hospitality of all classes, visiting the homes of the rich and the poor, the learned and the ignorant, and seeking to elevate their thoughts from questions of commonplace life to those things that are spiritual and eternal.  He gave no license to dissipation, and no shadow of worldly levity marred His conduct; yet He found pleasure in scenes of innocent happiness, and by His presence sanctioned the social gatherings.--The Desire of Ages, 150.

                                      On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee.
                                           Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples
                                                      had also been invited to the wedding.
                                           When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him,
                                                             "They have no more wine."
                              
                                                        --John 2:1-3, NIV

February 25: Heavenly Happiness.

Delighting in Communing With the Father.
David said about him: "I saw the Lord always before me.  Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.  Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope."--Acts 2:25-26, NIV

CHRIST FOUND COMFORT and joy in communion with His Father.  Here He could unburden His heart of the sorrows that were crushing Him....As the human was upon Him, He felt His need of strength from His Father.  He had select places of prayer.  He loved to hold communion with His Father in the solitude of the mountains.  In this exercise His holy, human soul was strengthened for the duties and trials.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, 201.

He studied the word of God, and His hours of greatest happiness were found when He could turn aside from the scene of His labors to go into the fields, to meditate in the quiet valleys, to hold communion with God on the mountainside or amid the trees of the forest.  The early morning often found Him in some secluded place, meditating, searching the Scriptures, or in prayer.  With the voice of singing He welcomed the morning light.  With songs of thanksgiving He cheered His hours of labor and brought heaven's gladness to the toilworn and disheartened.--The Ministry of Healing, 52.

                           One of those days, Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray,
                                            and spent the night praying to God.
                                                                                                --Luke 6:12, NIV

February 24: Heavenly Happiness.

Delighting in God's Will and Law.
Then I said, "Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me.  I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.  I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness in the great assembly; indeed, I do not restrain my lips."--Psalm 40:7-9, NKJV

THE SELF-DENYING REDEEMER, throughout His pilgrimage of love on earth, was a living representation of the character of the law of God.--Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 49.

From His earliest years He was possessed of one purpose; He lived to bless others.--The Desire of Ages, 70.

He manifested a patience that nothing could disturb, and a truthfulness that would never sacrifice integrity.  In principle firm as a rock, His life revealed the grace of unselfish courtesy.--The Desire of Ages, 68.

There were some who sought His society, feeling at peace in His presence; but many avoided Him, because they were rebuked by His stainless life.  Young companions urged Him to do as they did.  He was bright and cheerful; they enjoyed His presence, and welcomed His ready suggestions; but they were impatient at His scruples, and pronounced Him narrow and straight-laced.  Jesus answered, It is written, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy word."...Psalm 119:9....

When questioned why He did not join in the frolics of the youth of Nazareth, He said, It is written, "I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.  I will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways.  I will delight myself in Thy statutes; I will not forget Thy word."  Psalm 119:14-16.--The Desire of Ages, 89.

February 23: Heavenly Happiness.

The Savior Delights in Bringing Us Rest and Peace.
"You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy."--Hebrews 1:9, NIV

THERE ARE MANY who have an erroneous idea of the life and character of Christ.  They think that He was devoid of warmth and sunniness, that He was stern, severe, and joyless.  In many cases the whole religious experience is colored by these gloomy views.

It is often said that Jesus wept, but that He was never known to smile.  Our Saviour was indeed a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief, for He opened His heart to all the woes of men.  But though His life was self-denying and shadowed with pain and care, His spirit was not crushed.  His countenance did not wear an expression of grief and repining, but ever one of peaceful serenity.  His heart was a wellspring of life, and wherever He went He carried rest and peace, joy and gladness.--Steps to Christ, 120.

                       "In the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven
              over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons
                               who do not need to repent."
                                                                       --Luke 15:7, NIV

                                After he has suffered,
                     he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
                by his knowledge my righteousness will justify many,
                             and he will bear their iniquities.
                              
                                         --Isaiah 53:11, NIV

February 22: Heavenly Happiness.

God's Pleasure in Zion.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.  Do good in Zion in your pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem.--Psalm 51: 17, 18, ESV

THE LORD HAS PROVIDED His church with capabilities and blessings, that may present to the world an image of His own sufficiency, and that His church may be complete in Him, a continual representation of another, even the eternal world, of laws that are higher than earthly laws.  His church is to be a temple built after the divine similitude, and the angelic architect has brought his golden measuring rod from heaven, that every stone may be hewed and squared by the divine measurement and polished to shine as an emblem of heaven, radiating in all directions the bright, clear beams of the Sun of Righteousness.--Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 17.

It is by the Spirit of truth, working through the word of God, that Christ subdues His chosen people to Himself.

In describing to His disciples the office work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus sought to inspire them with joy and hope that inspired His own heart.  He rejoiced because of the abundant help He had provided for His church.--The Desire of Ages, 671.

He rejoiced in the consciousness that He could and would do more for His followers than He had promised; that from Him would flow forth love and compassion, cleansing the soul temple, and making men like Him in character; that His truth, armed with the power of the Spirit, would go forth conquering and to conquer.--The Acts of the Apostles, 23.

February 21: Heavenly Happiness.

God Delights in Those Who Do His Will.
It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.--Philippians 2:13, NKJV

YIELD UP YOUR WILL to the will of Jesus Christ; and as you do this, God will immediately take possession and work in you to will and to do of His good pleasure.  Your whole nature will then be brought under the control of the Spirit of Christ, and even your thought will be subject to Him....

You need to drink at the fountain of truth, that you may understand the secret of pleasure and joy in the Lord.  But you must remember that your will is the spring of all your actions. This will, that forms so important a factor in the character of man, was at the Fall given into the control of Satan; and he has ever since been working in man to will and to do of his own pleasure, but to the utter ruin and misery of man.  But the infinite sacrifice of God in giving Jesus, His beloved Son, to become a sacrifice for sin, enables Him to say, without violating one principle of His government: "Yield yourself up to Me; give Me that will; take it from the control of Satan, and I will take possession of it; then I can work in you to will and to do of My good pleasure."  When He gives you the mind of Christ, your will becomes as His will, and your character is transformed to be like Christ's character.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, 513, 515.

                     The person without the Spirit does not accept the things
               that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness....
                                          But we have the mind of Christ.
                              
                                            --1 Corinthians 2:14, 16, NIV

February 20: Heavenly Happiness.

Those Who Do His Will See His Love.
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation, let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds.--Psalm 149:4, 5, ESV

THE CLOSEST RELATIONSHIP exists between God and His people.  Not only are we objects of His sparing mercy, His pardoning love; we are more than this.  The Lord rejoices over His people.  He delights in them.  He is their surety.  He will beautify all who are serving Him with a whole heart with the spirit of holiness.  He clothes them with righteousness.  He loves those who do His will, who express His image.--Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 414.

He is acquainted with everyone connected with His service.  He knows those whose hearts He can fill with the holy oil, that they may impart it to others.  Those who faithfully carry forward the work of Christ in our world, representing in word and works the character of God, fulfilling the Lord's purpose for them, are in His sight very precious.  Christ takes pleasure in them as a man takes pleasure in a well-kept garden and the fragrance of the flowers he has planted.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, 418.

          To the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly,
               their faith is credited as righteousness.  David says the same thing
                       when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom
                                God credits righteousness apart from works:
                                       "Blessed are those
                                           whose transgressions are forgiven,
                                            whose sins are covered.
                                       Blessed is the one
                                             whose sin the Lord will never count against them."
                              
                                                                 --Romans 4:5-8, NIV

February 19: Heavenly Happiness.

God Delights in Those Who Fear Him.
The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.--Psalm 147:11, ESV

ALL HEAVEN REJOICES when weak, faulty human beings give themselves to Jesus, to live His life.--Messages to Young People, 108.

Christ has pledged Himself to be our substitute and surety, and He neglects no one.  He who could not see human beings exposed to eternal ruin without pouring out His soul unto death in their behalf, will look with pity and compassion upon every soul who realizes that he cannot save himself.

He will look upon no trembling supplicant without raising him up.  He who through His own atonement provided for man an infinite fund of moral power, will not fail to employ this power in our behalf.  We may take our sins and sorrows to His feet; for He loves us.  His every look and word invites our confidence.--Christ's Object Lessons, 157.

However wretched may be the specimens of humanity that men spurn and turn aside from, they are not too low, too wretched, for the notice and love of God.  Christ longs to have care-worn, weary, oppressed human beings come to Him.  He longs to give them the light and joy and peace that are to be found nowhere else.--Christ's Object Lessons, 225.

                              "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
                                                                                                     --Matthew 11:28, ESV

      "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you,
                               Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
                                                                                              --John 14:27, ESV

February 18: Heavenly Happiness.

God Is Pleased With His Beloved Son.
And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him, and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."--Matthew 3:16, 17, ESV

THE WORD THAT WAS SPOKEN to Jesus at the Jordan, "This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," embraces humanity.  God spoke to Jesus as our representative.  With all our sins and weaknesses, we are not cast aside as worthless.  "He hath made us accepted in the Beloved."  Ephesians 1:6.  The glory that rested upon Christ is a pledge of the love of God for us.  It tells us of the power of prayer,--how the human voice may reach the ear of God, and our petitions find acceptance in the courts of heaven.  By sin, earth was cut off from heaven, and alienated from its communion; but Jesus has connected it again with the sphere of glory.  His love has encircled man, and reached the highest heaven.  The light which fell from the open portals upon the head of our Saviour will fall upon us as we pray for help to resist temptation.  The voice which spoke to Jesus says to every believing soul, This is My beloved child, in whom I am well pleased.--The Desire of Ages, 113.

                                    Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness.
                               For we do not know what to pray for as we ought,
                      but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
                              
                                                                                  --Romans 8:26, ESV

February 17: Heavenly Happiness.

He Gave His Son for Our Redemption.
It pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.--Isaiah 52:10, KJV

THE PLAN FOR OUR REDEMPTION was not an afterthought, a plan formulated after the fall of Adam.  It was a revelation of "the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal."  Romans 16:25, R.V.  It was an unfolding of the principles that from eternal ages have been the foundation of God's throne.  From the beginning, God and Christ knew of the apostasy of Satan, and of the fall of man through the deceptive power of the apostate.  God did not ordain that sin should exist, but He foresaw its existence, and made provision to meet the terrible emergency.  So great was His love for the world, that He covenanted to give His only-begotten Son, "that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  John 3:16.--The Desire of Ages, 22.

He who is infinite in wisdom could devise no plan for our salvation except the sacrifice of His Son.  The compensation for this sacrifice is the joy of peopling the earth with ransomed beings, holy, happy, and immortal.  The result of the Saviour's conflict with the powers of darkness is joy to the redeemed, redounding to the glory of God throughout eternity.  And such is the value of the soul that the Father is satisfied with the price paid; and Christ Himself, beholding the fruits of his great sacrifice, is satisfied.--The Great Controversy, 652.

                            Knowing that you were ransomed...with the precious blood of Christ,
                                              like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
                                      He was foreknown before the foundation of the world
                                but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.
                                                                                                   --1 Peter 1:18-20, ESV