Dear CPC Family,
Sometimes as Christians we hesitate to say “Happy new year” to avoid being misunderstood. I get it. But Psalm 1 and Psalm 119 begin with the word asher that is best translated “happy.” It is different from the word “barak” that is used to bless the Lord, which means to praise and worship him. Asher is also the name of one of the tribes of Israel, and Leah makes it clear why she called her son that, “Happy am I! For women have called me happy” (Gen. 30:13).
The Psalms tell us the key to happiness. True and lasting happiness is not found in the pursuit of happiness (however you define it) but in the pursuit of God:
[Happy] is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight in the law of the LORD,
and in his law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2)
Scripture redefines (or rightly defines) happiness for us: it is bound up in godliness. It sounds unintuitive and unattractive, doesn’t it? It is partly because it is untried and untasted. And partly because we have sought the creation (or re-creation) rather than the Creator (Romans 1). The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy (us and our happiness), but Christ came so that we may have life and have it abundantly. He is the Good Shepherd who sought us and bought us by laying down his own life for us (John 10). We pursue him because he first pursued us, even unto death. How great is his love!
And so we trust that he is able to do far more abundantly than we ask or imagine in 2021! If you still need a Bible reading plan, you can download one from here to get started tomorrow. Give it a try. You won’t regret it. More printed copies will be available in the narthex next Sunday.
Wish you all a Happy New Year! May the Lord bless you!
Pastor Shiv
PS: If you are interested to read Vaneetha’s story, which I quoted, you can find it here.