God wants us to be happy.  When He tells us in the Bible to do, say, correct, believe, feel, think or share something, it is not to take away our happiness, but rather it is to take away the things that are in the way of our full and lasting happiness.  We must trust that God is after our happiness, that He knows best how to bring about our happiness, and that what He tells us in the Bible is designed to lead us into happiness.  Doing what God tells us is not always easy, popular or instantly gratifying.  But it is always for good, always better in the end than sin, and always the best option for making us truly, ultimately, and eternally happy.

Beginning tomorrow morning I’ll be publishing a “short” each day until the end of our Runner Church ministry season in October (instead of the normal weekday devotions).  These “shorts” will usually be a 4-6 sentence “thought for the day.”  This will allow me to focus my time on message prep for our Runner Church gatherings.  Normal weekday devotions will resume at the conclusion of the Runner Church season this Fall.  Please pray for us as we “show and tell” runners what the good news of Jesus is all about.

NOTE:  As time allows, I’ll post some lengthier content too.  This just won’t be on a regular schedule.

Hey there, finishers!  Jimmy here.  I’m away for a two week sabbatical with Paula and will not post weekday devotions here again until we return.

Until then, check out my shorter daily posts on our Facebook page at https://www.Facebook.com/FinishLineFaith/

And keep an eye out on your inbox for my next 3 devotions on April 2-4 (Easter Weekend).

Your prayers are appreciated as we step away for a couple of weeks to get refreshed for our upcoming Runner Church season.

And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. – Matthew 2:11

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What does Jesus want for Christmas? It’s not our begrudging submission, reluctant giving, half-hearted worship, indifferent service, or lukewarm affection.  These may be costly gifts, but they do not shine, and they are not sweet-smelling to our King.  No, what Jesus wants is our happiness.  Not our happiness in possessions, achievements, circumstances, people, or experiences that we often look to in order to find, but never find, contentment. He wants us to love, value and care about Him so much that it floods our hearts with real and deep and lasting joy.  After all, Jesus is honored in us when we are happy in Him, which is why living for Him should always flow out of loving Him.  What He wants most for Christmas is for us to get what we most want for Christmas because, whether we realize it or not, that’s Him. The search is over for what to give Jesus; it’s our contentment in Him.  The search is over for where to find our contentment; it’s given to us in Jesus. The greatest gift we can give Jesus is to receive His gift of joy that comes in really knowing and delighting in Him.   Therefore, let us prize Him and prefer Him and pursue Him over all other things.  Because He doesn’t just want our treasure; He wants to be our treasure.