I take my faith very seriously.
In fact, sometimes I take it so seriously that I forget to be truly happy about it. I mean, earthly happy: smiling, dancing, and having fun! We're allowed, you know. Even encouraged!
That may sound a bit sacrilegious, but have you read Ecclesiastes 9:7-9 lately?
"Seize life! Eat bread with gusto, drink wine with a robust heart!
Oh yes—God takes pleasure in your pleasure! Dress festively every
morning. Don’t skimp on colors and scarves. Relish life with the spouse you
love each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is God’s gift. It’s
all you get in exchange for the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of
each one! Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily!"
(Ecclesiastes 3:7-9, The Message Bible)
(Ecclesiastes 3:7-9, The Message Bible)
This passage had me at "eat and drink" and "accessorize"!
Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon, known for his wisdom and faith in God. The book is also the source of many other well-known sayings such as... "nothing new under the sun," "a time to be born and a time to die," and "vanity of vanities; all is vanity."
The author is determined to show us the shallowness of our existence apart from God. When we can understand that earthly pleasure is there for our enjoyment and not become slaves to it -- then, we can hold it loosely -- diluting it's power to define us.
The author is determined to show us the shallowness of our existence apart from God. When we can understand that earthly pleasure is there for our enjoyment and not become slaves to it -- then, we can hold it loosely -- diluting it's power to define us.
Enjoying God
We are defined by what we set our affections on. When we set our affections on God, we are free from the bondage of the temporary pleasures of this world. Read that very carefully...we are free from the "bondage" -- not the actual enjoyment itself. Quite the contrary! You can freely enjoy what you "hold loosely" because there are no eternal consequences to losing it. When your pleasure doesn't define you, it's nice when it's there, but when it goes away, that's fine, too.
IF God was not a Trinity, but rather completely singular in nature, then power would be the source of His nature instead of love, because love needs an object. He is both love and power, of course, but love came first and is foremost. Love is the source and the essence of God's nature.
He lives in us, and through us, to show His great love for us -- not to show off His great power. And He does all that just because it pleases Him to do it. It makes Him happy. (I could ponder that for days!)
His love is relentless. And that makes me very happy indeed. Find a happy place and do a happy dance on "God's Great Dancefloor"by Chris Tomlin.
God Enjoys US!
Our God is three-in-one (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) because the nature of God is Love -- and each part of the Trinity lavishes love on the Other. Love requires an object. The Father directs His love to the Son, and the Son points His love back to the Father, and both point lovingly back-and-forth to the Holy Spirit, the Messenger of this great Love.
IF God was not a Trinity, but rather completely singular in nature, then power would be the source of His nature instead of love, because love needs an object. He is both love and power, of course, but love came first and is foremost. Love is the source and the essence of God's nature.
He lives in us, and through us, to show His great love for us -- not to show off His great power. And He does all that just because it pleases Him to do it. It makes Him happy. (I could ponder that for days!)
His love is relentless. And that makes me very happy indeed. Find a happy place and do a happy dance on "God's Great Dancefloor"by Chris Tomlin.
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