He Delivered

Greetings! My prayer today is that you are doing well and prospering in God’s blessings.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: LUKE 7:22-23

Jesus let John know that He delivered to others based on eyewitness accounts: sight was restored,  the lame were healed, the deaf could hear, the dead were raised, and the Good News was proclaimed. This Scripture caused me to think about joy and happiness.

In referencing Isaiah 61:1-2 – “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn,” it moves me to be grateful for what I do have, the intangible things.

Jesus, anointed by God, did what He did. His death and resurrection not only allow us to be reconciled to God, but to have peace and joy. When you consider what makes you unhappy, is it based on what you don’t have? Are they material things? If you don’t have peace, what is lacking? Jesus left us His peace. John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” What would you do differently in your life, if you could, to bring that ultimate place of peace? The peace Jesus gives us is the true peace while we are here on earth. We are unable to give ourselves this peace. It comes from our relationship with Christ Jesus.

I ask these questions because I’ve had to answer them for myself. When we evaluate the root cause of our discontent, we find that we have all we need. Some circumstances may be uncomfortable, but not insurmountable. I want to note the difference between joy and happiness. Happiness is circumstantial. Joy is an inner work. Our ultimate comfort and joy are in God through Jesus Christ. God bless you, and be encouraged.