I find it fascinating when I notice the same phrase or words
used several times in a biblical passage. Reading Proverbs 15, I saw “a merry
heart” used twice. I immediately thought of its use in Proverbs 17:22a, A merry heart
doeth good like a medicine. Here, the use of the word merry is the same as in Proverbs 15:13.
It means “joyful.” (Proverbs 15:13a—A
merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.)
A joyful heart.
How can we have a joyful heart, a merry heart?
Only through the Holy Spirit. Only those who have put their
trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior can have this joy. It is a fruit
of the Holy Spirit which indwells every believer.
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace
in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost (Romans 15:13).
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such
there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23).
This merry heart or joyful heart
isn’t a silly emotional feeling. It’s a deep sense of well-being in Christ.
When the Apostle Paul wrote his “Ode to Joy,” the book of Philippians, he was
in prison. Roman prisons weren’t exactly happy houses. But, Paul had joy and he
urged believers to rejoice.
Rejoice
in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice (Philippians
4:4). Notice, he says to rejoice in the
Lord. Our position in Christ is the reason for our joy.
Joy
A deep sense of satisfaction.
Pleasure. Happiness. These are the dictionary definitions.
Is my satisfaction found in my
relationship with Jesus Christ? Am I completely satisfied with Him, in Him? The
Bible says we are complete in Him
(Colossians 2:10).
Do we have pleasure and happiness
in our relationship with Jesus? Thou wilt
shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand
there are pleasures for evermore (Psalm
16:11).
Do we enjoy the “good medicine” of
a merry heart?
Do we have cheerful faces?
All of this comes from a
relationship with Jesus Christ, through faith in Him, trust in Him.
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