Posted on 09/14/2022 6:03:02 PM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
“All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast” (Proverbs 15:15).
“All the days of the afflicted are evil,” having a merry heart doesn’t mean that everything is always going to go right but note that ALL the days of the evil are evil. Even when things are going right, they can’t really be happy. Have you ever been around people that no matter how things were, they were always complaining? Some folks hearts are just so bitter and twisted and perverted and fouled up that they can’t enjoy anything.
“All the days of the afflicted are evil,” if a man’s heart isn’t right, and sin is afflicting him, it doesn’t matter if you have everything—nothing is right. All the days of Al Capone were evil. He was constantly looking over his shoulder. You get people up in the positions where they were living, and there is always somebody out to get them. “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled” (Hebrews 12:15).
The grace of God ought to establish your heart. It ought to give you a right heart, but with some people the grace of God doesn’t work on them and they fail, and the root of bitterness takes hold of them, messes them up, and messes up many around them.
It would be better to be around a bunch of dumb, happy Christians than a bunch of smart, bitter, nit-picking, complaining, back-biting, gossiping folks that know everything about the Bible. I’d rather be around believers that are as dumb as a post who don’t know if they are coming or going, or going or coming, but are happy in the Lord. Hey! We are saved, we are bound for heaven, we are trying the lead people to Jesus Christ, why aren’t you rejoicing? Why aren’t you happy! Some Christians aren’t look for a blessing, they are just waiting for things to go wrong so they can talk about it.
“. . . but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast,” happy as a hog in mud. There are Christians that don’t have a whole lot, it’s not like God was using them like Billy Graham or anything, they had a small plot they were plowing and were having their needs met. They were right with God and they are just as happy as a pig in sunshine.
“. . . but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast,” Paul and Silas down there in that jail in Philippi were just singing and praising God until midnight when God used them to lead the jailer and his family to Christ. They were just as happy as they could be. That’s the only way to be as a Christian.
Happy people, the doctors say, resist disease better than sad ones. And the Bible says, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” So cheer up! It’s the surly bird that catches the germ.
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Ha! It’s the surly bird that catches the germ ! All glory to God .
Excellent. Thank you Lord! I give you my bitterness and unforgiveness so I am free in You!
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