Rules and Joy
When the righteous see God in action
they’ll laugh, they’ll sing,
they’ll laugh and sing for joy. ~ Psalm 68:3 (MSG)
God’s kingdom isn’t about eating and drinking. It is about pleasing God, about living in peace, and about true happiness. All this comes from the Holy Spirit. ~ Romans 14:17 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
Joy doesn't come from keeping all the religious or family rules -- but from pleasing God through a Holy Spirit directed life.
PRAYER:
Lord, it is a real joy when I see you in action. Your Spirit makes me sing. However, I'm still tied to the rule book. I know that rules can be good but I also know that rule-keeping isn't what really pleases you. Help me to be less concerned about rules and appearances and more into letting the Holy Spirit give me direction. I'm committed to living out the Kingdom of God. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
