The QBC Daily Nugget
March 4, 2015
“The Rules of the Lord are true and righteous. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold”
(Psalm 19:9b-10a)
JOHN 1:12 – But to all who did receive Him (the Lord Jesus), who believed in His name, He gave the right and power
to become children of God.
THEME OF THE DAY: HOW TO BE A HAPPY CHRISTIAN. When it comes to the Christian life and books pertaining
to it, I am not very keen on titles or messages that start out with “How to” or “Five steps toward”. I know that might be
narrow and not always fair, but when I see books that seem to give a list or formula to achieve some spiritual plane or
maturity that I am not currently experiencing, I am a little suspect. On the other hand, I can get quite excited over a
book titled, “Altogether Lovely” by Jonathan Edwards on the glory and excellency of Christ. Let me encourage you to
be slow in grabbing books that advertise spiritual growth by some formula, list, or method that subtly leads us to worksbased, self-help, and in our strength efforts to grow up as a Christian. Instead, choose books and listen to messages
that take you face to face with the Lord Jesus. Let the criteria for anything we read or listen to be, “Does it take me to
Christ? Is it Christ-centered? Will it increase my knowledge of the Lord?”
With that said, I am about to go contrary to everything I advised against. My contradiction begins with the theme of
today’s nugget. Next is the book I am holding in my hand and I am very eager to read. It is titled, The Happy
Christian: Ten Ways to be a Joyful Believer in a Gloomy World. If I wasn’t familiar with the author, this book would
never be in my possession, but David Murray is a trusted author; a solid pastor and theologian who is Christ-centered
in everything. In fact, here is another book he penned verifying that – Jesus on Every Page.
So, what about being a happy Christian? Here is a portion of the introduction to Murray’s book – “Rate your faith with
a positive or negative. Now rate your life: positive or negative? They’re connected, aren’t they? A positive faith
produces a positive life; a negative faith, a negative life. That shouldn’t surprise us. King Solomon wrote, ‘As a person
thinks in his heart, so is he’ (PROVERBS 23:7). We are what we think and believe. What we think and believe about
God, about ourselves, about others, about our problems, and about our world dictates and determines the quality of
our whole lives; our happiness, our relationships, our creativity, our productivity, and even our physical health.”
Pretty good stuff, huh? I haven’t gotten past the introduction, but Professor Murray is right on – how we think of God
and ourselves will determine the quality of our lives. I would add, it will also determine just how close we get to the
Lord; how deep our fellowship is with Him, and just how fruitful we will be in our world for Him through His Gospel.
As I hold this book in my hand, I am asking these two questions – “How should I think about God and myself?” and
“How do I become a happy Christian?” Ask them to yourself. Even answer them now. Here are my two answers
based on today’s scripture. First, I am to think about God as He is in my relationship with Him – my heavenly Father
and my heavenly brother, Jesus (JOHN 20:17; HEBREWS 2:10-12). Next, I am to daily walk as I am – a child of
God. Can anything more produce a happy Christian than to know the God of the Universe is my Father and Brother
with both committed to love and care for me in every circumstance of life and eternity? Think about this staggering
truth and if we truly are living out the “happy Christian” life as God’s child, it will show. Our lives will be characterized
by aggressive compassion, consistent, and holy obedience to His Word to include the obedience to be about the
business of the Gospel that makes happy Christians.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to always find my satisfaction in my God.”
QUOTE: “The human soul will only be contented in God; not what He does, but who He is.”