January 11: Rejoice and Be Glad.

He Whose Helper Is God
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God.--Psalm 146:5, NKJV

WHEN, AFTER HIS SIN IN DECEIVING ESAU, Jacob fled from his father's home, he was weighed down with a sense of guilt.  Lonely and outcast as he was, separated from all that had made life dear, the one thought that above all others pressed upon his soul, was the fear that his sin had cut him off from God, that he was forsaken of Heaven.  In sadness he lay down to rest on the bare earth, around him only the lonely hills, and above, the heavens bright with stars.  As he slept, a strange light broke upon his vision; and lo, from the plain on which he lay, vast shadowy stairs seemed to lead upward to the very gates of heaven, and upon them angels of God were passing up and down; while from the glory above, the divine voice was heard in a message of comfort and hope.  Thus was made known to Jacob that which met the need and longing of his soul--a Saviour.  With joy and gratitude he saw revealed a way by which he, a sinner, could be restored to communion with God.--Steps to Christ, 19.


Jacob's history is an assurance that God will not cast off those who have been betrayed into sin, but who have returned unto Him with true repentance.--Patriarchs and Prophets, 202.

January 10: Rejoice and Be Glad.

At Peace With God and Man
Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy.--Proverbs 12:20, NKJV

HE WHO IS AT PEACE WITH GOD and his fellow men cannot be made miserable.  Envy will not be in his heart; evil surmisings will find no room there; hatred cannot exist.  The heart that is in harmony with God is a partaker of the peace of heaven and will diffuse its blessed influence on all around.  The spirit of peace will rest like dew upon hearts weary and troubled with worldly strife.--Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 27.

Blessed are the peacemakers."  The peace of Christ is born of truth.  It is harmony with God.  The world is at enmity with the law of God; sinners are at enmity with their Maker; and as a result they are at enmity with one another.  But the psalmist declares, "Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them."  Psalm 119:165.  Men cannot manufacture peace.  Human plans for the purification and uplifting of individuals or of society will fail of producing peace, because they do not reach the heart.  The only power that can create or perpetuate true peace is the grace of Christ.  When this is implanted in the heart, it will cast out the evil passions that cause strife and dissension.  "Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree;" and life's desert "shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose."  Isaiah 55;13; 35:1.--The Desire of Ages, 302.

January 9: Rejoice and Be Glad.

The Merciful
Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.--Proverbs 14:21, ESV

YE HAVE THE POOR WITH YOU ALWAYS," Christ said, "and whensoever ye will ye may do them good."...Mark 14:7.

In placing among them the helpless and the poor, to be dependent upon their care, Christ tests His professed followers.  By our love and service for His needy children we prove the genuineness of our love for Him.  To neglect them is to declare ourselves false disciples, strangers to Christ and His love.--The Ministry of Healing, 205.

Jesus sought to correct the world's false standard of judging the value of men.  He took His position with the poor, that He might lift from poverty the stigma that the world had attached to it.  He has stripped from it forever the reproach of scorn, by blessing the poor, the inheritors of God's kingdom.

...He dwelt among the lowly.  He set at naught the artificial distinction of society.  The aristocracy of birth, wealth, talent, learning, rank, He ignored....

...He ate with publicans and sinners, and mingled with the common people, not to become low and earthly with them, but in order by precept and example to present to them right principles, and to uplift them from their earthliness and debasement.--The Ministry of Healing, 197.

As you open your door to Christ's needy and suffering ones, you are welcoming unseen angels.  You invite the companionship of heavenly beings.  They bring a sacred atmosphere of joy and peace.  They come with praises upon their lips, and an answering strain is heard in heaven.  Every deed of mercy makes music there.  The Father from His throne numbers the unselfish workers among His most precious treasures.--The Desire of Ages, 639.

January 8: Rejoice and Be Glad.

The Meek
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."--Matthew 5:5, NKJV

MEEKNESS IS A PRECIOUS GRACE, willing to suffer, willing to endure trials.  Meekness is patient and labors to be happy under all circumstances.  Meekness is always thankful and makes its own songs of happiness, making melody in the heart to God.  Meekness will suffer disappointment and wrong, and will not retaliate.  Meekness is not to be silent and sulky.  A morose temper is the opposite of meekness; for this only wounds and gives pain to others, and takes no pleasure to itself.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, 335.

A meek and quiet spirit will not be ever looking out for itself, but will seek for self-forgetfulness and find sweet content and true satisfaction in making others happy.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, 536.

The world's Redeemer had a greater than angelic nature, yet united with His divine majesty were meekness and humility that attracted all to Himself....

The meekness of Christ, manifested in the home, will make the inmates happy; it provokes no quarrel, gives back no angry answer, but soothes the irritated temper and diffuses a gentleness that is felt by all within its charmed circle.  Wherever cherished, it makes the families of earth a part of the one great family above.--Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 14, 16.

January 7: Rejoice and Be Glad.

He Who Trusts God:
Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful.--Proverbs 16:20, NLT.

IF WE WILL BUT LISTEN, God's created works will teach us precious lessons of obedience and trust.  From the stars that in their trackless courses through space follow from age to age their appointed path, down to the minutest atom, the things of nature obey the Creator's will.  And God cares for everything and sustains everything that He has created.  He who upholds the unnumbered worlds throughout immensity, at the same time cares for the wants of the little brown sparrow that sings its humble song without fear.  When men go forth to their daily toil, as when they engage in prayers; when they lie down at night, and when they rise in the morning; when the rich man feasts in his palace, or when the poor gathers his children about the scanty board, each is tenderly watched by the heavenly Father.  No tears are shed that God does not notice.  There is no smile that He does not mark.

If we would but fully believe this, all undue anxieties would be dismissed.  Our lives would not be so filled with disappointment as now, for everything, whether great or small, would be left in the hands of God, who is not perplexed by the multiplicity of cares, or overwhelmed by their weight.  We should then enjoy a rest of soul to which many have long been strangers.--Steps to Christ, 85, 86.

January 6: Rejoice and Be Glad.

He Who Fears God:
Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.--Proverbs 28:14, ESV.

WITHOUT THE FEAR OF GOD no one can be truly happy.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, 434.

"God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him"  (Psalm 89:7).

Those who realize the greatness and majesty of God, will take His name on their lips with holy awe.  He dwelleth in light unapproachable; no man can see Him and live.--Early Writings, 122.

"Wherefore..., let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear"  (Hebrews 12:28).

True reverence for God is inspired by a sense of His infinite greatness and a realization of His presence.  With this sense of the Unseen, every heart should be deeply impressed...."Holy and reverend is His name," [Psalm 111:9.] the psalmist declares.  Angels, when they speak that name, veil their faces.  With what reverence, then, should we, who are fallen and sinful, take it upon our lips!--Gospel Workers, 178.

                O Lord God of hosts,
            who is as mighty as you, O Lord?
            Your faithfulness surrounds you....
          The heavens are yours, the earth also is yours;
        the world and all that is in it--you have founded them.
                              
                               ----Psalm 89:11, NRSV.

January 5: Rejoice and Be Glad.

Let the Righteous Be Glad:
Let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.--Psalm 68:3, NKJV.

WHATEVER IS DONE to the glory of God is to be done with cheerfulness, not with sadness and gloom.  There is nothing gloomy in the religion of Jesus.  If Christians give the impression by a mournful attitude that they have been disappointed in their Lord, they misrepresent His character and put arguments into the mouth of His enemies.  Though in words they may claim God as their Father, yet in gloom and sorrow they present to the world the aspect of orphans.

Christ desires us to make His service appear attractive, as it really is.  Let the self-denials and the secret heart trials be revealed to the compassionate Saviour.  Let the burdens be left at the foot of the cross, and go on your way rejoicing in His love who first loved you.--Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 88.

                By your appointment they stand today,
                    for all things are your servants.
                If your law had not been my delight,
                I would have perished in my misery.
                    I will never forget your precepts,
                for by them you have given me life.

                              
                  --Psalm 119:91-93, NRSV

January 4: Rejoice and Be Glad.

Because the Reigns:
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; and let them say among the nations, "The Lord reigns."--1 Chronicles 16:31, NKJV.

THE WORLD that Satan has claimed and has ruled over with cruel tyranny, the Son of God has, by one vast achievement, encircled in His love and connected again with the throne of Jehovah.  Cherubim and seraphim, and the unnumbered hosts of all the unfallen worlds, sang anthems of praise to God and the Lamb when this triumph was assured.  They rejoiced that the way of salvation had been opened to the fallen race and that the earth would be redeemed from the curse of sin.  How much more should those rejoice who are the objects of such amazing love!--Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 104.

With eager desire all heaven had waited for the end of His tarrying in a world marred by the curse of sin.  The time had now come for the heavenly universe to receive their King....

With joy unutterable, rulers and principalities and powers acknowledge the supremacy of the Prince of life....

Songs of triumph mingle with the music from angel harps, till heaven seems to overflow with joy and praise.  Love has conquered.  The lost is found.  Heaven rings with voices in lofty strains proclaiming, "Blessings, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever."  Revelation 5:13....

From that scene of heavenly joy, there comes back to us on earth the echo of Christ's own wonderful words, "I ascend to My Father; and to My God and your God."  John 20:17.  The family of heaven and the family of earth are one.  For us our Lord ascended, and for us He lives.--The Desire of Ages, 832-835.

January 3: Rejoice and Be Glad.

Trusting and Loving Him
Let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy.  Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.  Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.--Psalm 5:11, 12, NIV.

WE MAY REJOICE IN HOPE.  Our Advocate is in the heavenly sanctuary, pleading in our behalf.  Through His merits we have pardon and peace.  He died that He might wash away our sins, clothe us with His righteousness, and fit us for the society of heaven, where we may dwell in light forever.  Dear brother, dear sister, when Satan would fill your mind with despondency, gloom, and doubt, resist his suggestions.  Tell him of the blood of Jesus, that cleanses from all sin.  You cannot save yourself from the tempter's power, but he trembles and flees when the merits of that precious blood are urged.  Then will you not gratefully accept the blessings Jesus bestows?  Will you not take the cup of salvation that He presents, and call on the name of the Lord?--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, 316.

All your happiness, peace, joy, and success in this life are dependent upon genuine, trusting faith in God....Believe in Jesus as one who pardons your sins, one who wants you to be happy in the mansions He has gone to prepare for you.  He wants you to live in his presence; to have eternal life and a crown of glory.--Messages to Young People, 410

January 2: Rejoice and Be Glad.

Fellowship With Him:
Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works! glory in his holy name; the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore!--Psalm 105:2-4, NKJV.

MAN CREATED FOR FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD, can only in such fellowship find his real life and development.  Created to find his highest joy, he can find in nothing else that which can quiet the cravings of the heart, can satisfy the hunger and thirst of the soul.  He who with sincere and teachable spirit studies God's word, seeking to comprehend its truths, will be brought in touch with its Author; and, except by his own choice, there is no limit to the possibilities of his development.--Education, 124.

No man can really enjoy life without religion.  Love to God purifies and ennobles every taste and desire, intensifies every affection, and brightens every worthy pleasure.  It enables men to appreciate and enjoy all that is true, and good, and beautiful...Messages to Young People, 264.

To have the consciousness that the eye of the Lord is upon us, and that His ear is open to our prayers, is a satisfaction indeed.  To know that we have a never-failing Friend to whom we can confide all the secrets of the soul, is a happiness which words can never express.--Counsels on Health, 628.