Wednesday, May 31, 2023
The Joy of Integrity
Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. (Psalm 119:2 NLT)
Many people today who are searching for happiness will never quite find it. That’s because they’re searching for it in the wrong way.
We learn from the Bible that happiness is a by-product of holiness. And when we get our priorities in order, happiness will soon follow.
That is why nonbelievers never will know true happiness. They keep going after the devil’s cheap counterfeits; they have no deep well from which to draw.
In Psalm 119, we find God’s original design for finding and maintaining holiness. And as a result, we will discover happiness.
The psalmist wrote, “Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths” (verses 1–3 NLT).
From the very beginning of our lives, we learn the importance of walking. It’s interesting how little children immediately start moving in that direction. But they don’t quit after they take their first steps. They keep trying.
We grow as Christians in the same way. When we commit our lives to Christ, we begin to walk in the way of the Lord. And if we fall, we need to get up and keep trying.
Walking speaks of progression, of moving forward as opposed to simply standing still. And if we want to be truly happy and holy people, then we should not only avoid what is wrong but also actively engage in what is right.
People who are merely trying to avoid evil are missing the point. It is not merely a matter of what we don’t do. It’s also a matter of what we do. We must engage in spiritual growth and in godly living. We must walk in the way of the Lord.
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