The Word - April 18, 2012 - THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO BE HAPPY

"Then God said to Jacob, arise, go up to Bethel and live there, and make an alter there to God......So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, put away the foreign gods among you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. Let us arise and go up to Bethel; and there I will make an alter to God, who will answer me in the day of my distress, and has been with me wherever I have gone" (Genesis 35:1-3) Read the rest of the story.

"Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey." An old hymn with a scriptural based message, which we hardly ever hear today. The verse, "We never can prove the delights of His love until all on the alter we lay; for the favor He shows and the joy He bestows, are for them who trust and obey."

The message comes to us with little fanfare, the secret of spiritual happiness and blessing is simply trusting and obeying the Lord. The divine message for true happiness and blessing is always the result of full trust in God, and complete obedience to His Word.

In Genesis 35 we meet Jacob returning to Bethel. He had just spent 20 tough years away from home waiting for brother Esau's anger to cool. He had become the target of his brother's wrath because he had cheated Esau out of the family blessing. But here we see that God is going to bless Him way beyond just a family blessing. He didn't need to jump the gun, he could have waited for God to fulfill the promise in His own time and way.

Waiting for God's timing is often difficult for us as well, but it is always the best way in the long run. We, like Jacob, fail the Lord to the point of complete obedience at times, but God is faithful to His promises. It is true that, like Jacob, we must reap the consequences of our disobedience; but God is gracious and will complete the work He has begun in us.

What a lesson for us here! We find His way is made so clear in His Word. It covers everything, like control of our thought life, role of men and women, our sex life, you name it! God simply expects us to trust and obey Him. That's "where it's at", to experience His blessing in our lives. Just trust and obey! There is no other way!