THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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Happiness -- some cause it where they go, some when they go.
Have you ever noticed that the happiest people are the ones who never really worry about whether they are?
A chaplain approached a young soldier who was praying. He said, "Son, may I help you?"
The soldier looked up for a moment and said, "No. Sir. I'm being helped already."
Now THAT'S happiness!
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Luke 19:1-6
1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
KJV
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In 1995, Corey Pavin, a very short man was playing with Vijay Singh and Davis Love III during the first two rounds at the U.S. Open in golf. The powerful Singh & Love outdrove Pavin on virtually every T-box. But Pavin WON that U.S. Open! He took home a trophy and $350,000!
Later, Pavin said, "I am not the biggest or strongest guy, but that certainly isn't a prerequisite to win a U.S. Open."
Neither size nor status is a prerequisite for being happy.
When your desire is to know Jesus, nothing else matters. That's happiness in the making.
Zacchaeus was a small man, but he wanted to see Jesus. So he climbed up in a tree. When Jesus saw him, He called Zacchaeus to him, and then invited Himself to dinner at Zacchaeus' home.
Jesus was on His way to Bethany to raise Lazarus from the dead when he passed through Jericho and met Zacchaeus. But Jesus stopped long enough to see that Zacchaeus was made happy by coming to know Him.
Jesus is presently on His way to raise ALL the dead and sit in final and eternal judgment. But He will stop long enough to make anyone happy who wants to know Him.
We should be like Zacchaeus. We should seek to SEE Jesus and know "who He is" (vs 3).
When we do that, Jesus notices and fills our hearts with His presence.
And THAT my friends, is REAL HAPPINESS! To KNOW Him, and to know His PRESENCE!
Love ya,
Bruce