The Joyous Difference God Makes

The Joyous Difference God Makes

Update: 2025-10-07
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How do we get joy? Ecclesiastes 5:18 –20 looks forward to the call to worship in public worship on the coming Lord's Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that joy is a gift that God adds to His other gifts. The devotional draws from Ecclesiastes 5:18 –20 to affirm that life's joys—eating, drinking, and labor—are not meaningless but truly good and meaningful when received as gifts from God. It emphasizes that even in a short, toilsome life shaped by the fall, God's goodness in ordinary experiences is a sacred blessing. The passage teaches us to receive wealth and labor, not as achievements of human effort, but as gifts from God. True joy arises from recognizing our good things as our portions from Him, and the joy itself is its own, separate gift. This frees believers from anxiety over life's brevity, as God sustains them with joy, preventing undue dwelling on mortality. Ultimately, the message calls for a life lived in continual gratitude, where every good thing is received in worship and delight, reflecting a heart transformed by grace and anchored in eternal hope.
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The Joyous Difference God Makes

The Joyous Difference God Makes

James Hakim