King's News 27

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True happiness
Ruby Davey paints a picture...

Often people ask what makes you happy? Some think that having lots of money brings happiness but that is not always the case. We hear of so many who have won the lottery and only grief has followed. Or maybe we think of Ken Dodd singing "Happiness, happiness", waving a tickling stick! But that also isn't the answer. The word 'happiness' itself means elation, contentment or joy.

I want to paint a picture for you of what to me is true happiness, although at first the picture looks anything but happy!.

In the book of Acts, chapter 16, we read of Paul and Silas being thrown into prison and locked up by the jailer who was given the responsibility of making sure they stayed there. We read how Paul and Silas sang praises to God when suddenly there was an earthquake - the prison shook, the doors opened and their chains fell off. The jailer thought everyone had escaped and was so afraid, he made to kill himself, but Paul called out, "Don't hurt yourself, we're all here". The next thing we read was the jailer trembling before them and asking that all-important question - "What must I do to be saved?"

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household," replied Paul, and the jailer accepted Jesus into his life. Then we read that he and all his family were baptised and a meal was prepared.

What a picture indeed of true happiness in their home, all filled with joy, sitting down and sharing a meal together.

I had much the same experience with my own mother when I was in my teens and she suddenly said to me, "Ruby, what must I do to be saved?" I told her simply what Paul has said to the jailer, but being of a Catholic background, she said "But don't I have to do something?" I said no, because on the cross Jesus cried out, "It is finished", so there was nothing now to add.

At the time, I was trying to teach myself to play the organ (very amateurishly!) and I remember later my mother came to me and said, "Ruby, would you play that hymn for me, 'Oh the peace my Saviour gives, Peace I never knew before'?"

I knew then that God had done a work in my mother's heart and to me that brought complete happiness. Thank you Lord!

Ruby

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