March 4:  Joy to the World.

Immanuel, "God With Us."
"Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord."--Zechariah 2:10, ESV

GOD COMMANDED MOSES for Israel, "Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them" (Exodus 25:8), and He abode in the sanctuary, in the midst of His people.  Through all their weary wandering in the desert, the symbol of His presence was with them.  So Christ set up His tabernacle in the midst of our human encampment.  He pitched His tent by the side of the tents of men, that He might dwell among us, and make us familiar with His divine character and life.  "The Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the Only Begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth."  John 1:14, R.V., margin.

Since Jesus came to dwell with us, we know that God is acquainted with our trials, and sympathizes with our griefs.  Every son and daughter of Adam may understand that our Creator is the friend of sinners.  For in every doctrine of grace, every promise of joy, every deed of love, every divine attraction presented in the Saviour's life on earth, we see "God with us."--The Desire of Ages, 23, 24.

        Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
      prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying,
                  "Beloved, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them,
             and they shall be His people.  God Himself will be with them and be their God.
             And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death,
                                nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain,
                                         for the former things have passed away."
                              
                                                         --Revelation 21:2-4, NKJV

March 3:  Joy to the World.

Trusting in the Lord.
Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, whose mouths speak lies....Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!  Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!--Psalm 144:11, 15, ESV

WE SHOULD NEVER give to the world the false impression that Christians are a gloomy, unhappy people.  If our eyes are fixed on Jesus, we shall see a compassionate Redeemer, and shall catch light from His countenance.  Wherever His Spirit reigns, there peace abides.  And there will be joy also, for there is a calm, holy trust in God.--The Desire of Ages, 152.

It was God's purpose that by the revelation of His character through Israel men should be drawn unto Him....All who, like Rahab the Caanaanite, and Ruth the Moabitess, turned from idolatry to the worship of the true God, were to unite themselves with His chosen people.  As the numbers of Israel increased they were to enlarge their borders, until their kingdom should embrace the world.

God desired to bring all peoples under His merciful rule.  He desired that the earth should be filled with joy and peace.  He created man for happiness, and He longs to fill human hearts with the peace of heaven.  He desires that the families below shall be a symbol of the great family above.--Christ's Object Lessons, 290.

                                    "Happy are you, O Israel!  Who is like you,
                                               a people saved by the LORD,
                                                   the shield of your help,
                                                and the sword of your triumph!
                                            Your enemies shall come fawning to you,
                                                 and you shall tread upon their backs."
                              
                                               --Deuteronomy 33:29, ESV

March 2:  Joy to the World.

Rejoicing in the Gifts of Life.
Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.--1 Timothy 6:17, NKJV

TO THE INFINITE LOVE of the Redeemer every human being is indebted for the gifts of life.  Food and raiment and shelter, body and mind and soul--all are the purchase of His blood.--Education, 139.

All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men.--Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 91.

Every day they are surrounded with the tokens of God's love; every day they are enjoying the bounties of His providence.--Steps to Christ, 121.

The plan of redemption begins and ends with a gift...."God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son."...And as the crowning blessing of redemption, "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, 730.

He has given us the Light and Majesty of heaven, and with Him He has bestowed all the heavenly treasure.  Much as He has promised us for the life to come, He bestows princely gifts in this life.  As subjects of His grace, He desires us to enjoy everything that will ennoble, expand, and elevate our characters.--The Ministry of Healing, 405.

                  "Look at the birds....They neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns;
               yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?...
                 ...Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;
       and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
                              
                                                           --Matthew 6:26, 28, 29, NKJV

March 1: Joy to the World.

Happiness Is a Gift From God.
For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in his sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God.  This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.--Ecclesiastes, 2:26, NKJV

GOD IS THE SOURCE of life and light and joy to the universe.  Like rays of light from the sun, like the streams of water bursting from a living spring, blessings flow out from Him to all His creatures.--Steps to Christ, 77.

Look at the wonderful and beautiful things of nature.  Think of their marvelous adaptation to the needs and happiness, not only of man, but of all living creatures.  The sunshine and the rain, that gladden and refresh the earth, the hills and seas and plains, all speak to us of the Creator's love....

"God is love" is written upon every opening bud, upon every spire of springing grass.  The lovely birds making the air vocal with their happy songs, the delicately tinted flowers in their perfection perfuming the air, the lofty trees of the forest with their rich foliage of living green--all testify to the tender, fatherly care of God and to His desire to make His children happy.--Steps to Christ, 9, 10.

                                You shower him with blessings that last forever;
                           he finds joy in knowing Your presence and loving You.
                                                                                          --Psalm 21:6, VOICE

                                              For with You is the fountain of life;
                                                     In Your light we see light.
                                                                                           --Psalm 36:9, NKJV

February 29: Glad Tidings.

The Good News of Salvation.
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation..--Isaiah 12:3, NRSV

THE TRUE PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIANITY open before all a source of happiness, the height and depth, the length and breadth of which are immeasurable.  It is Christ in us a well of water springing up into everlasting life.  It is a continual wellspring from which the Christian can drink at will and never exhaust the fountain.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, 565.

Why do we stay away from the fountain, when we can come and drink?  Why do we die for bread, when there is a storehouse full?  It is rich and free.  O my soul, feast upon it, and daily drink in heavenly joys.  I will not hold my peace.  The praise of God is in my heart and upon my lips.  We can rejoice in the fullness of our Saviour's love.  We can feast upon His excellent glory.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, 98.

The last words spoken by Christ to John were: "The Spirit and the bride say, Come.  And let him that heareth say, Come.  And let him that is athirst come.  And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."  Revelation 22:17.  When we respond to God and say, "Lord, we come," then with joy shall we draw water out of the well of salvation.--Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 370.

                              For God alone my soul waits in silence;
                                          from him comes my salvation.
                                     He alone is my rock and my salvation,
                                          my fortress; I shall never be shaken.
                                                                             --Psalm 62:1, 2, NRSV

February 28: Heavenly Happiness.

He Delighted in Serving Others.
"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."--John 15:11, NIV

OUR SAVIOUR'S JOY was in the uplifting and redemption of fallen men.  For this He counted not His life dear unto Himself, but endured the cross, despising the shame.--Steps to Christ, 77.

Ever before Him He saw the result of His mission.  His earthly life, so full of toil and self-sacrifice, was cheered by the prospect that He would not have all this travail for nought.  By giving His life for the life of men, He would win back the world to its loyalty to God.--The Desire of Ages, 410.

The accomplishment of the mission which He had left heaven to perform strengthened the Saviour for His labor, and lifted Him above the necessities of humanity.  To minister to a soul hungering and thirsting for the truth was more grateful to Him than eating or drinking.  It was a comfort, a refreshment, to Him.  Benevolence was the life of His soul.--The Desire of Ages, 190.

The spirit of Christ's self-sacrificing love is the spirit that pervades heaven and is the very essence of its bliss.  This is the spirit that Christ's followers will possess, the work that they will do.--Steps to Christ, 77.

                             "If one of you wants to be first, you must be the slaves of all.
                                    For even the Son of Man did not come to be served;
                              he came to serve and to give his life to redeem many people."
                              
                                                                --Mark 10:44, 45, GNT

February 27: Heavenly Happiness.

He Revealed Himself to Humble Men.
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.  Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do."--Luke 10:21, NIV

THE HONORED MEN of the world, the so-called great and wise men, with all their boasted wisdom, could not understand the character of Christ.  They judged Him from outward appearance, from the  humiliation that came upon Him as a human being.  But to fishermen and publicans it had been given to see the Invisible.  Even the disciples failed of understanding all that Jesus desired to reveal to them; but from time to time, as they surrendered themselves to the Holy Spirit's power, their minds were illuminated.  They realized that the mighty God, clad in the garb of humanity, was among them.  Jesus rejoiced that though this knowledge was not possessed by the wise men and prudent, it had been revealed to these humble men.  Often as He had presented the Old Testament Scriptures, and showed their application to Himself and His work of atonement, they had been awakened by His Spirit, and lifted into a heavenly atmosphere.  Of the spiritual truths spoken by the prophets they had a clearer understanding than had the original writers themselves.  Hereafter they would read the Old Testament Scriptures, not as the doctrines of the scribes and Pharisees, not as the utterances of wise men who were dead, but as a new revelation from God.  They beheld Him "whom the world cannot receive because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."  John 14:17.--The Desire of Ages, 494.

February 26: Heavenly Happiness.

His Loving Interest in the Human Family.
"Rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man."--Proverbs 8:31, ESV

AT ALL TIMES and in all places Jesus manifested a loving interest in the human family, and shed about Him the light of a cheerful piety.--Messages to Young People, 405.

He reached the hearts of the people by going among them as one who desired their good.  He sought them in the public streets, in private houses, on the boats, in the synagogue, by the shores of the lake, and at the marriage feast.  He met them at their daily vocations, and manifested an interest in their secular affairs.  He carried His instruction into the household, bringing families in their homes under the influence of His divine presence.  His strong personal sympathy helped to win hearts.--The Desire of Ages, 151.

Jesus reproved self-indulgence in all its forms, yet He was social in His nature.  He accepted the hospitality of all classes, visiting the homes of the rich and the poor, the learned and the ignorant, and seeking to elevate their thoughts from questions of commonplace life to those things that are spiritual and eternal.  He gave no license to dissipation, and no shadow of worldly levity marred His conduct; yet He found pleasure in scenes of innocent happiness, and by His presence sanctioned the social gatherings.--The Desire of Ages, 150.

                                      On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee.
                                           Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples
                                                      had also been invited to the wedding.
                                           When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him,
                                                             "They have no more wine."
                              
                                                        --John 2:1-3, NIV

February 25: Heavenly Happiness.

Delighting in Communing With the Father.
David said about him: "I saw the Lord always before me.  Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.  Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope."--Acts 2:25-26, NIV

CHRIST FOUND COMFORT and joy in communion with His Father.  Here He could unburden His heart of the sorrows that were crushing Him....As the human was upon Him, He felt His need of strength from His Father.  He had select places of prayer.  He loved to hold communion with His Father in the solitude of the mountains.  In this exercise His holy, human soul was strengthened for the duties and trials.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, 201.

He studied the word of God, and His hours of greatest happiness were found when He could turn aside from the scene of His labors to go into the fields, to meditate in the quiet valleys, to hold communion with God on the mountainside or amid the trees of the forest.  The early morning often found Him in some secluded place, meditating, searching the Scriptures, or in prayer.  With the voice of singing He welcomed the morning light.  With songs of thanksgiving He cheered His hours of labor and brought heaven's gladness to the toilworn and disheartened.--The Ministry of Healing, 52.

                           One of those days, Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray,
                                            and spent the night praying to God.
                                                                                                --Luke 6:12, NIV

February 24: Heavenly Happiness.

Delighting in God's Will and Law.
Then I said, "Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me.  I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.  I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness in the great assembly; indeed, I do not restrain my lips."--Psalm 40:7-9, NKJV

THE SELF-DENYING REDEEMER, throughout His pilgrimage of love on earth, was a living representation of the character of the law of God.--Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 49.

From His earliest years He was possessed of one purpose; He lived to bless others.--The Desire of Ages, 70.

He manifested a patience that nothing could disturb, and a truthfulness that would never sacrifice integrity.  In principle firm as a rock, His life revealed the grace of unselfish courtesy.--The Desire of Ages, 68.

There were some who sought His society, feeling at peace in His presence; but many avoided Him, because they were rebuked by His stainless life.  Young companions urged Him to do as they did.  He was bright and cheerful; they enjoyed His presence, and welcomed His ready suggestions; but they were impatient at His scruples, and pronounced Him narrow and straight-laced.  Jesus answered, It is written, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy word."...Psalm 119:9....

When questioned why He did not join in the frolics of the youth of Nazareth, He said, It is written, "I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.  I will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways.  I will delight myself in Thy statutes; I will not forget Thy word."  Psalm 119:14-16.--The Desire of Ages, 89.