Psalm 97:11-12 Light is shed upon the righteous
and joy on the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous,
and praise his holy name.

Because of the differences between the Japanese and the English here, I would guess that the Hebrew is a bit difficult to translate. However, the turn of phrase in the Japanese is striking: “Light is scattered like seed on the righteous, and joy on the upright in heart.” The thing about seeds is that it takes time for the full effect to be evident. Often, God will do something for us and we won’t realize until much later what a wonderful thing He did. Because of that delay, we fail to thank Him and praise Him as He deserves. Actually, in my experience, the very act of thanking and praising Him helps us recognize the depth and breadth of His grace and mercy toward us. In the Bible light is used as a symbol of understanding and as a symbol of life. God grants us eternal life when we receive Jesus Christ as Lord by faith, but we may feel very little difference at first. It’s like a woman might not feel any different at the moment of conception, but over time it becomes evident that she has new life within her. God’s life is planted in us, but full fruition comes when we are before His throne. In the same way, we receive “enlightenment” by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, but that understanding grows as we apply it to our lives; it isn’t static. As a result, God’s joy also takes deep root in us, far differently from the passing pleasures and enjoy­ment of this world. Again, thanks and praise to God are the water that makes that seed take deep root and grow.

This is something I have certainly experienced over the years. As the song says, “The Longer I Serve Him, the Sweeter He Grows.” However, I have trouble getting that truth across to people who are younger in years and in faith. We want everything to be instant! I have done my own share of complaining at God’s timing, so I should be patient with those I serve as well. I should seek to help them recognize what God has already done for them and give Him thanks for that, so that the eyes of their hearts may be opened to see the amazing riches of what God has provided in Christ that they might not have recognized yet. Thankfulness, I feel, is perhaps the biggest single key to happiness, yet so many overlook it and focus on complaining. I need to help people recognize the seeds of light and joy that God has scattered on them, so that they may appropriate them rather than ignore them, and so receive the full benefit.

Father, thank You for this insight this morning. This could well be a sermon! I’ll be seeing people today who need this truth. Help me communicate it with Your words in Your love, so that those who hear may bear the fruit of Your Spirit, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!