You love righteousness, and hate wickedness; therefore, God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions...
Psalm 45:7
I love how God connects righteousness with the oil of gladness in this passage. The psalmist speaks of Jesus and says that because of His righteousness, the Lord anoints Him with gladness.
Psalm 16 says that in the presence of God is the fullness of joy. Jesus never left His Father's presence, so I am sure He was the most joyful man that ever walked the face of the earth. Jesus had that constant communion with God going so that He lived in His presence day and night.
It's not that Jesus was absent of human emotion. Of course, He experienced sadness and anger; there are examples of these in the gospels, but Jesus had a "living water" that never ran dry. He had a constant flow of life running through Him at every moment.
I've seen so many movies and audio versions of the Bible where Jesus looks, sounds, and acts depressed. Let me tell you, He was anything but that. Jesus was and is the most joyful person alive.
Jesus was not only joyful because He was in constant communion with the Father, but also because He lived and walked in righteousness. He was in a constant state of agreement with God. Never was He out of line with the Holy Spirit--not once.
For me, when I am walking in line with God, I am one of the happiest people I have ever met, but when I am out of line with the Holy Spirit, I am one of the most miserable.
Now, I am not saying that I am not affected by outside circumstances which make me happy or sad; Jesus encouraged responsiveness (dancing with the flute, lamenting with the dirge), but I am speaking of a deep immovable joy that surpasses human emotions. I want something deep inside that is unshakable.
Many times, the reason outside circumstances rob me of deep joy is because I am uncertain of the truth of God's love and affection for me. So many lies and questions flood in, and I let them in my shaken state.
However, we have to stay constantly plugged into God's truth, raise up the shield of faith against those lies; thus staying in agreement with righteousness and plugged into the living water of joy.
It is easier said than done, but we have a great Example to follow and a Helper who will never leave.
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