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Imitating Christ's Happiness
Devotional for Friday, October 11, 1996 by Ken Stright
Philippians 2:1-11 - If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. (NIV)"...make my joy complete:"
Where did Jesus find true happiness in this life? His disciples saw it in his service and self-sacrifice and so the bible says to us today:
"Have this mind in you that was in Christ Jesus"
Christ is the one who teaches us our true attitude toward life - one
found in his willingness to sacrifice and serve,
to humble himself
to empty himself
to enslave himself
to give himself
and in so doing
and in so giving
he found life in all its fullness and offered life in all its fullness
to all who would follow.
The scriptures say that such happiness comes from inner attitudes about life, about our place, about God's will for the world.
I've heard people tell me about the happiness that has come to them in the midst of fatal illness, precious moments that transcend pain or pleasure, and I've learned from them that happiness is not so much an emotion to be felt as an attitude to be lived,
And all God's people are invited to reach out and grasp this happiness for themselves, and offer it to friends and family and complete strangers as a divine gift.
So the secret?
Trust in God.
Care for each other.
Give life your best.
Watch your attitude.
And happiness will be yours for all eternity.
Prayer: Creator of all hope and happiness, fill us today and everyday with the mind of Christ, so that we might confess in word and action that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God. Amen.
Ken Stright <kennethstright@yahoo.ca>
Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Today's Music:
Refiner's Fire.