February 14: Heavenly Happiness.

More Mercy.
Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who needs a doctor, but the sick.  But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'  For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."--Matthew 9:12, 13, NIV

BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES were not acceptable to God in ancient times unless the spirit was right with which the gift was offered.  Samuel said: "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."  All the money on earth cannot buy the blessing of God nor ensure you a single victory.

Many would make any and every sacrifice but the very one they should make, which is to yield themselves, to submit their wills to the will of God.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, 84.

"To obey is better than sacrifice."  And without obedience and unselfish love, the richest offerings are too meager to be presented to the Possessor of all things--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, 57.

God has commanded nothing that is unessential, and there is no other way of manifesting reverence so pleasing to Him as by obedience to that which He has spoken.--Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 111.

                          For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
                  and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."
                                                                                                      --Hosea 6:6, NIV

February 13: Heavenly Happiness.

God Delights in Mercy.
Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgressions of His heritage?  He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy.--Micah 7:18, NKJV

GOD "DELIGHTETH IN MERCY."  "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked."  Micah 7:18; Ezekiel 33:!1.  To him the work of destruction and the denunciation of judgment is a "strange work."  Isaiah 28:21.  But it is in mercy and love that He lifts the veil from the future, and reveals to me the results of a course of sin.--The Desire of Ages, 582.

The word of God reveals His character.  He Himself has declared His infinite love and pity.  When Moses prayed, "Show me Thy glory," the Lord answered, "I will make all My goodness pass before thee."  Exodus 33:18, 19.  This is His glory.  The Lord passed before Moses, and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin."  Exodus 34:6, 7.  He is "slow to anger, and of great kindness," "because He delighteth in mercy."  Jonah 4:2; Micah 7:18.--Steps to Christ, 10.

             He prayed to the Lord, "Isn't this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home?
                                 That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish.
                            I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God,
                                             slow to anger and abounding in love,
                                         a God who relents from sending calamity."
                              
                                                                --Jonah 4:2, NIV

February 12: Heavenly Happiness.

Kindness, Justice, and Goodness.
" 'Let the one who boasts boasts about this; that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the Lord."--Jeremiah 9:24, NIV

NO FINITE MIND can fully comprehend the character or the world of the Infinite One.  We cannot by searching find out God.  To minds the strongest and most highly cultured, as well as to the weakest and most ignorant, that holy Being must remain clothed in mystery.--Education, 169.

The apostle Paul exclaims, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His way past finding out!"  Romans 11:33.  But though "clouds and darkness are round about Him," "righteousness and judgment are the foundation of His throne."  Psalm 97:2, R.V.  We can so far comprehend His dealings with us, and the motives by which He is actuated, that we may discern boundless love and mercy united to infinite power.  We can understand as much of His purposes as it is for our good to know; and beyond this we must still trust the hand that is omnipotent, the heart that is full of love.--Steps to Christ, 106.

             "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might,
                    let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this,
                       that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices
                                  steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth."
                                                                                                     --Jeremiah 9:23, 24, ESV

February 11: Heavenly Happiness.

Unbending Integrity.
The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.--Proverbs 11:1, NIV

THE ACCOUNTS OF EVERY BUSINESS, the details of every transaction, pass the scrutiny of unseen auditors, agents of Him who never compromises with injustice, never overlooks evil, never palliates wrong.--Education, 144.

An honest man, according to Christ's measurement, is one who will manifest unbending integrity.  Deceitful weights and false balances, with which many seek to advance their interests in the world, are abomination in the sight of God.  Yet many who profess to keep the commandments of God are dealing with false weights and false balances.  When a man is indeed connected with God, and is keeping His law in truth, his life will reveal the fact; for all his actions will be in harmony with the teachings of Christ.  He will not sell his honor for gain.  His principles are built upon the sure foundation, and his conduct in worldly matters is a transcript of his principles.  Firm integrity shines forth as gold amid the dross and rubbish of the world.--Testimonies for the Church., vol. 4, 310.

Those who choose honesty as their companion will embody it in all their acts.  To a large class, these men are not pleasing, but to God they are beautiful.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, 607.

                                                  "Use honest scales and honest weights,
                                                   an honest ephah and an honest hin.
                                          I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt."
                                                                                                       --Leviticus 19:36, NIV

February 10: Heavenly Happiness.

God Delights in Those Who Follow the Truth.
The Lord detest lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.--Proverbs 12:22, NIV

EVERYTHING THAT CHRISTIANS DO should be as transparent as the sunlight.  Truth is of God; deception, in every one of its myriad forms, is of Satan; and whoever in any way departs from the straight line of truth is betraying himself into the power of the wicked one.  Yet it is not a light or an easy thing to speak the exact truth.  We cannot speak the truth unless we know the truth; and how often preconceived opinions, mental bias, imperfect knowledge, errors of judgment, prevent a right understanding of matters with which we have to do!  We cannot speak the truth unless our minds are continually guided by Him who is truth....

Those who have learned of Christ will "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness."  Ephesians 5:11.  In speech, as in life, they will be simple, straightforward, and true; for they are preparing for the fellowship of those holy ones in whose mouth "was found no guile."  Revelation 14:5.--Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 68, 69.

                                    The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against
                                           all the godlessness and wickedness of people,
                                           who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
                              
                                                       --Romans 1:18, NIV

February 9: Heavenly Happiness.

God Delights in the Prayer of the Upright.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.--Proverbs 15:8, NKJV

EVERY SOUL has the privilege of stating to the Lord his own special necessities and to offer his individual thanksgiving for the blessings that he daily receives.  But the many long and spiritless, faithless prayers that are offered to God, instead of being a joy to Him, are a burden.  We need, oh, so much! clean, converted hearts.  We need to have our faith strengthened.  "Ask, and it shall be given you," the Saviour promised; "seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."  Matthew 7:7.  We need to educate ourselves to trust in this word and to bring the light and grace of Christ into all our works.  We need to take hold of Christ and to retain our hold of Him until we know that the power of His transforming grace is manifested in us.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, 278.

God wants His children to ask for those things that will enable Him to reveal His grace through them to the world.  He wants them to seek His counsel, to acknowledge His power.  Christ lays loving claims on all for whom He has given life; they are to obey His will if they would share the joys that He has prepared for all who reflect His character here.  It is well for us to feel our weakness, for then we shall seek the strength and wisdom that the Father delights to give to His children for their daily strife against the powers of evil.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, 284.

                                        But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you,
                                            for my power is made perfect in weakness."
                                    Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,
                                                 so that Christ's power may rest on me.
                                        That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses,
                                         in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.
                                                  For when I am weak, then I am strong.
                              
                                                                    --2 Corinthians 12:9, 10, NIV

February 8: Heavenly Happiness.

In His Church
"For the Lord your God is living among you.  He is a mighty saviour.  He will take delight in you with gladness.  With his love, he will calm all your fears.  He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."--Zephaniah 3:17, NLT

THE ELECT OF GOD are dear to His heart.  They are those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, to show forth His praise, to shine as lights amid the darkness of the world.  The unjust judge had no special interest in the widow who importuned him for deliverance; yet in order to rid himself of her pitiful appeals, he heard her plea, and delivered her from her adversary.  But God loves His children with infinite love.  To Him the dearest object on earth is His church.--Christ's Object Lessons, 165.

During ages of spiritual darkness the church of God has been as a city set on a hill.  From age to age, through successive generations, the pure doctrines of heaven have been unfolding within its borders.  Enfeebled and defective as it may appear, the church is the one object upon which God bestows in a special sense His supreme regard.  It is the theater of His grace, in which He delights to reveal His power to transform hearts.--The Acts of the Apostles, 12.

                        "You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
                    Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand,
           and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others,
           so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
                                                                                                    --Matthew 5:14-16, ESV

                          I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that,
                       if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God,
                          which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
                                                                                                    --1 Timothy 3:14, 15, ESV

February 7: Heavenly Happiness

God Rejoices in His Chosen People.
No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate.  But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be married.--Isaiah 62:4, NIV

IF WE ARE FAITHFUL and obedient, God will delight is us, and bless us as His own chosen peculiar people.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, 693.

The Lord has joined His people to Himself by a solemn covenant, He promising to be their God, and they pledging themselves to be His and His alone.  He declares: "I will betroth thee unto Me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies."  Hosea 2:19.  And, again: "I am married unto you."  Jeremiah 3:14.  And Paul employs the same figure in the New Testament when he says: "I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."  2 Corinthians 11:2.--The Great Controversy, 381.

                         For as a young man marries a young woman,
                                    so shall your builder marry you,
                         and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
                                    so shall your God rejoice over you.
                                                                                 --Isaiah 62:5, NRSV

                                                  Husbands, love your wives,
                                    just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
                                                                     --Ephesians 5:25, NRSV

February 6: Heavenly Happiness.

We Are His Representatives.
"Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your ancestors alone and chose you, their descendants after them, out of all the peoples, as it is today."--Deuteronomy 10:15, NRSV

GOD DESIRED TO MAKE of His people Israel a praise and a glory.  Every spiritual advantage was given them.  God withheld from them nothing favorable to the formation of character that would make them representatives of Himself.

Their obedience to the laws of God would make them marvels of prosperity before the nations of the world.  He who could give them wisdom and skill in all cunning work would continue to be their teacher and would ennoble and elevate them through obedience to His laws.  If obedient, they would be preserved from the diseases that afflicted other nations and would be blessed with vigor of intellect.  The glory of God, His majesty and power, were to be revealed in all their prosperity.  They were to be a kingdom of priests and princes.  God furnished them with every facility for becoming the greatest nation on the earth.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, 221, 222.

Through Israel it was His design to impart rich blessings to all people.  Through them the way was to be prepared for the diffusion of His light to the whole world.--Testimonies for the Church, 221.


"His glory is His children's good; his joy, His tender Fatherhood."--Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 77.

                              But you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation,
                                  These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites."
                                                                                                   --Exodus 19:6, NRSV

February 5: Heavenly Happiness.

God Rejoices to Bestow Blessings.
"They shall be my people, and I will be their God....Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul."--Jeremiah 32:38, 41, NKJV

CHRIST'S LOVE for His children is as tender as it is strong.  And it is stronger than death; for He died to purchase our salvation, and to make us one with Him, mystically and eternally one.  So strong is His love that it controls all His powers, and employs the vast resources of heaven in doing His people good.  It is without variableness or shadow of turning--the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Although sin has existed for ages, trying to counteract this love and obstruct its flowing earthward, it still flows in rich currents to those for whom Christ died.

God loves the sinless angels, who do His service and are obedient to all His commands; but He does not give them grace; they have never needed it, for they have never sinned.  Grace is an attribute shown to undeserving human beings.  We did not seek after it; it was sent in search of us.  God rejoices to bestow grace upon all who hunger and thirst for it, not because we are worthy, but because we are unworthy.--Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 519.

                        For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves;
                                    it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
                             For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
                                   which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
                              
                                                                        --Ephesians  2:8-10, NKJV