The Alpha of Gladness

UV 3036/10000 The Alpha of Gladness

Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
Psalm 97 v 11
The word of God is the light that is sown in our hearts and minds which gives us wisdom, knowledge and understanding of how best to live. It is sown in our hearts when we receive and believe the seed of the gospel that Jesus who allowed Himself to be reduced to an absolute zero only to bounce back as an absolute hero is able to save us. Good news always produces gladness in human hearts even as bad news produces shock, anguish, sadness. When we receive the gospel as God’s plan for man, it sets right our hearts with the Lord. What is sown as a seed in our hearts grows and becomes a veritable kingdom of God producing the nine fold fruit of the Spirit including a joyful spirit. The kingdom of God is not about pandering to our senses or our physical appetite or lust but it is about righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. We find our righteousness, peace and joy in what the Holy Spirit communicate and conveys to us continually.

The Lord is not a joy killer but He is a joy filler. He fills our hearts with gladness. Our cup runs over with joy as we trust Him, practice whatever He teaches us, believe and claim His promises even in the worst of circumstances and situations of life. The hope of eternal life fills us with joy and gladness. The continual communion or fellowship with the Lord fills us with gladness. The blessings of the Lord fills us with gladness. The answers to prayer fills us with gladness. Praise and worship lifts our hearts and fills us with gladness. The testimonies of the Lord’s faithfulness to others fills us with gladness and thanksgiving. Our attitude of gratitude fills us with gladness. When our work in this world and our work for the Lord is rewarded, we are filled with gladness. When we are able to give to just causes and help others our hearts are gladdened.

Rivers of life-giving joy flow from the hearts of believers. We are not to bottle up our source of joy but share it with others. We do not find pleasure like some do in the misery of others but like the Good Samaritan, we empathise with the suffering and afflicted. We find pleasure in lightening the heavy load of others. The upright in heart do not remain mute spectators of human suffering but take practical steps to alleviate it.