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I posted the below paragraphs as a note on YouVersion and figured I'd log it on here as well since I feel very strongly about it. I don't think that this is the kind of message most American Christians are very familiar with, and I have no preconceived notions that I can do anything to change that on my own. I believe it will have to be the Holy Spirit that will open the eyes of these people who would say what I'm about to condemn. It came about as I was talking to a friend who is going through a tough time in a relationship. He said, “what about people, even ‘Christians,' who tell me that God just wants me to be happy?" I must confess, I responded with what I felt was righteous indignation – I was mad, extremely mad. After I settled down, I wrote this:
“You must be holy because I, the LORD, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be My very own." (Leviticus 20:26 NLT)
If someone tells you that “God wants you to be happy," I recommend you tell them to shut their mouth! And I'm dead serious here because that is a flat out deadly lie from the devil. You would even be justified to go all “angry Jesus" on them and say “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Matt 16:23 ESV)
God isn't concerned with your happiness, He wants you to be holy!!! Happiness comes from happenstance which is based on circumstances, and get this: your circumstances will change – they won't always be happy! So you run from people who tell you God wants you happy. They are wrong and harmful to you. I know they might have good intentions, but as the saying goes: the road to hell is paved with those!
BE HOLY, and as you do that, you can join me in my quest to master the fine art of enjoying the unenjoyable. But leave happiness to those who only appreciate happy circumstances and don't live in the real world.
Peace,
Adam