February 7: Heavenly Happiness

God Rejoices in His Chosen People.
No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate.  But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be married.--Isaiah 62:4, NIV

IF WE ARE FAITHFUL and obedient, God will delight is us, and bless us as His own chosen peculiar people.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, 693.

The Lord has joined His people to Himself by a solemn covenant, He promising to be their God, and they pledging themselves to be His and His alone.  He declares: "I will betroth thee unto Me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies."  Hosea 2:19.  And, again: "I am married unto you."  Jeremiah 3:14.  And Paul employs the same figure in the New Testament when he says: "I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."  2 Corinthians 11:2.--The Great Controversy, 381.

                         For as a young man marries a young woman,
                                    so shall your builder marry you,
                         and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
                                    so shall your God rejoice over you.
                                                                                 --Isaiah 62:5, NRSV

                                                  Husbands, love your wives,
                                    just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
                                                                     --Ephesians 5:25, NRSV

February 6: Heavenly Happiness.

We Are His Representatives.
"Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your ancestors alone and chose you, their descendants after them, out of all the peoples, as it is today."--Deuteronomy 10:15, NRSV

GOD DESIRED TO MAKE of His people Israel a praise and a glory.  Every spiritual advantage was given them.  God withheld from them nothing favorable to the formation of character that would make them representatives of Himself.

Their obedience to the laws of God would make them marvels of prosperity before the nations of the world.  He who could give them wisdom and skill in all cunning work would continue to be their teacher and would ennoble and elevate them through obedience to His laws.  If obedient, they would be preserved from the diseases that afflicted other nations and would be blessed with vigor of intellect.  The glory of God, His majesty and power, were to be revealed in all their prosperity.  They were to be a kingdom of priests and princes.  God furnished them with every facility for becoming the greatest nation on the earth.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, 221, 222.

Through Israel it was His design to impart rich blessings to all people.  Through them the way was to be prepared for the diffusion of His light to the whole world.--Testimonies for the Church, 221.


"His glory is His children's good; his joy, His tender Fatherhood."--Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 77.

                              But you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation,
                                  These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites."
                                                                                                   --Exodus 19:6, NRSV

February 5: Heavenly Happiness.

God Rejoices to Bestow Blessings.
"They shall be my people, and I will be their God....Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul."--Jeremiah 32:38, 41, NKJV

CHRIST'S LOVE for His children is as tender as it is strong.  And it is stronger than death; for He died to purchase our salvation, and to make us one with Him, mystically and eternally one.  So strong is His love that it controls all His powers, and employs the vast resources of heaven in doing His people good.  It is without variableness or shadow of turning--the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Although sin has existed for ages, trying to counteract this love and obstruct its flowing earthward, it still flows in rich currents to those for whom Christ died.

God loves the sinless angels, who do His service and are obedient to all His commands; but He does not give them grace; they have never needed it, for they have never sinned.  Grace is an attribute shown to undeserving human beings.  We did not seek after it; it was sent in search of us.  God rejoices to bestow grace upon all who hunger and thirst for it, not because we are worthy, but because we are unworthy.--Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 519.

                        For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves;
                                    it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
                             For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
                                   which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
                              
                                                                        --Ephesians  2:8-10, NKJV

February 4: Heavenly Happiness

God Is Pleased When We Seek the Savior.
Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me!--Psalm 40:13, NKJV

THE SAVIOUR LONGS to manifest His grace and stamp His character on the whole world.  It is His purchased possession, and He desires to make men free, and pure, and holy.  Though Satan works to hinder this purpose, yet through the blood shed for the world there are triumphs to be achieved that will bring glory to God and the Lamb.  Christ will not be satisfied till the victory is complete, and "He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied."  Isaiah 53:11.--The Desire of Ages, 827.

Desponding soul, take courage, even though you have done wickedly.  Do not think that perhaps God will pardon your transgressions and permit you to come into His presence.  God has made the first advance.  While you were in rebellion against Him, He went forth to seek you.  With the tender heart of the shepherd He left the ninety and nine and went out into the wilderness to find that which was lost.  The soul, bruised and wounded and ready to perish, He encircles in His arms of love and joyfully bears it to the fold of safety.--Christ's Object Lessons, 188.

                                             For evils have encompassed me
                                                             beyond number;
                                            my iniquities have overtaken me,
                                                             and I cannot see;
                                         they are more than the hairs of my head;
                                                            my heart fails me.
                                             Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!
                                              O Lord, make haste to help me!
                              
                                                          --Psalm 40:12, 13, ESV

February 3: Heavenly Happiness.

Christ, the Delight of the Father.
"I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries.  And when he marked off the earth's foundations, I was the architect at his side.  I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence."--Proverbs 8:29, 30, NLT

THE SOVEREIGN OF THE UNIVERSE was not alone in His work of beneficence.  He had an associate--a co-worker who could appreciate His purposes, and could share His joy in giving happiness to created beings.  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God."  John 1:1, 2.  Christ, the Word, the only begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father--one in nature, in character, in purpose--the only being that could enter into all the councils and purposes of God.  "His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."  Isaiah 9:6...And the Son of God declared concerning Himself: "The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old.  I was set up from everlasting....When He appointed the foundations of the earth: then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him."  Proverbs 8:22-30.--Patriarchs and Prophets, 34.

                                   He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
                                        For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth,
                             visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--
                                                  all things were created through him and for him.
                                      And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
                              
                                                                  --Colossians 1:15-17, ESV

February 2: Heavenly Happiness.

Satisfied With His Works.
May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in His works.--Psalm 104:31, NKJV

HEAVEN AND EARTH were filled with rejoicing.  "The morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy."  Job 38:7.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, 349.

The creation was now complete.  "The heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them."...Eden bloomed on earth....No taint of sin or shadow of death marred the fair creation....

The great Jehovah had laid the foundations of the earth; He had dressed the whole world in the garb of beauty and had filled it with things useful to man; He had created all the wonders of the land and the sea.--Patriarchs and Prophets, 47.

Peace brooded over the world; for earth was in harmony with heaven.  "God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good;" and He rested in the joy of His completed work.--The Desire of Ages, 281.

                                              "You are worthy, O Lord,
                                       To receive glory and honor and power;
                                               For You created all things,
                                    And by Your will they exist and were created."
                                                                           --Revelation 4:11, NKJV

                                  God  saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
                                                                                             --Genesis 1:31, NIV

February 1: Heavenly Happiness.

Heaven Rejoices Over Repentant Sinners.
"I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."--Luke 15:7, NKJV

HEAVEN IS FULL OF JOY.  It responds with the praises of Him who made so wonderful a sacrifice for the redemption of the human race.  Should not the church on earth be full of praise?  Should not Christians publish throughout the world the joy of serving Christ?  Those who in heaven join with the angelic choir in their anthems of praise must learn on earth the song of heaven, the keynote of which is thanksgiving.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, 244.

Everything in heaven is noble and elevated.  All seek the interest and happiness of others.  No one devotes himself to looking out and caring for self.  It is the chief joy of all holy beings to witness the joy and happiness of those around them.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, 238.

There is no jar, no discord, there.  All is health, happiness, and joy.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, 81.

                "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them,
              does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost

              until he finds it?  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
                   And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors,
               saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' "
                                                                                              --Luke 15:4-6, NKJV

January 31: Rejoice and Be Glad.

The Great Joy of Being a Christian.
May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord.  I say it again: rejoice!--Philippians 4:4, GNT

REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS: and again I say, Rejoice"  (Philippians 4:4).

Forgetting our own difficulties and troubles, let us praise God for an opportunity to live for the glory of His name.  Let the fresh blessings of each new day awaken praise in our hearts for these tokens of His loving care.  When you open your eyes in the morning, thank God that He has kept you through the night.  Thank Him for His peace in your heart.  Morning, noon, and night, let gratitude as a sweet perfume ascend to heaven.--The Ministry of Healing, 253.

Again I say: Rejoice in the Lord.  Rest in Him.  You need his power, and this power you may have.  Go forward firmly, valiantly, courageously.  You may err in judgment, but do not lose your hold on Jesus.  He is wisdom, He is light, He is power.  He is to you as a great Rock in a weary land.  Rest under His shadow.  You need wisdom, and Jesus will give it to you.  Do not be unbelieving.  The more you are jostled, misapprehended, misstated, misrepresented, the more evidence you have that you are doing a work for the Master, and the more closely you must cling to your Savour.  In all your difficulties be calm and undisturbed, patient and forbearing, not rendering evil for evil, but good for evil.  Look to the top of the ladder.  God is above it.  His glory shines on every soul ascending heavenward.  Jesus is this ladder.  Climb up by Him, cling to Him, and erelong you will step off the ladder into His everlasting kingdom.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, 130.

January 30: Rejoice and Be Glad.

Let Us Celebrate the Victory.
And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.--Psalm 27:6, NKJV

WHOSO OFFERETH PRAISE," say the Creator, "glorifieth Me."  Psalm 50:23.  All the inhabitants of heaven unite in praising God.  Let us learn the song of the angels now, that we may sing it when we join their shining ranks.  Let us say with the psalmist, "While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being."  "Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee."  Psalm 146:2; 65:5.--Patriarchs and Prophets, 289.

We must carry to every religious gathering a quickened spiritual consciousness that God and His angels are there, co-operating with all true worshipers....

The place of worship may be very humble, but it is no less acknowledged by God.  To those who worship God in spirit and in truth and in the beauty of holiness it will be as the gate of heaven.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, 362, 363.

The temple of God is opened in heaven, and the threshold is flushed with the glory which is for every church that will love God and keep His commandments.  We need to study, to meditate, and to pray.  Then we shall have spiritual eyesight to discern the inner courts of the celestial temple.  We shall catch the themes of song and thanksgiving of the heavenly choir round about the throne.  When Zion shall arise and shine, her light will be most penetrating, and precious songs of praise and thanksgiving will be heard in the assemblies of the saints.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, 368.

                                      Happy are those who live in your house,
                                               ever singing your praise....
                                            For a day in your courts is better
                                                than a thousand elsewhere.
                                 I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
                                               than live in the tents of wickedness.
                                                                                        --Psalm 84:4, 10, NRSV

January 29: Rejoice and Be Glad.

Celebrating His Blessings.
"Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the Lord for seven days; on the first day there shall be a sabbath-rest, and on the eight day a sabbath-rest.  And you shall take for yourself on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days."--Leviticus 23:39, 40, NKJV

WELL WOULD IT BE for the people of God at the present time to have a Feast of Tabernacles--a joyous commemoration of the blessings of God to them.  As the children of Israel celebrated the deliverance that God had wrought for their fathers, and His miraculous preservation of them during their journeyings from Egypt, so should we gratefully call to mind the various ways He has devised for bringing us out from the world, and from the darkness of error, into the precious light of His grace and truth....

The Feast of Tabernacles was not only commemorative but typical.  It not only pointed back to the wilderness sojourn, but, as the feast of harvest, it celebrated the ingathering of the fruits of the earth, and pointed forward to the great day of final ingathering, when the Lord of the harvest shall send forth His reapers to gather the tares together in bundles for the fire, and to gather the wheat into His garner....

...When the ransomed of the Lord shall have been safely gathered into the heavenly Canaan, forever delivered from the bondage of the curse, under which "the whole creation groaneth in pain together until now"  (Romans 8:22), they will rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.--Patriarchs and Prophets, 540-542.