Happiness & Holiness

How often do we see our pursuit of happiness, something which we have been so graciously endowed in this nation, ought to be in fact a pursuit of holiness?  Maybe that ought to be something we consider as cases of depression continually rise, as well as what would appear to me to be a general state of dissatisfaction in life.  How many make the correlation that the rise of unhappiness, dissatisfaction, listlessness, and apathy in life take place as ungodliness rises and becomes, not merely public norm, but publicly accepted and approved?

"Never cease to show your people that to be holy is to be happy.  And that to bring us to perfect holiness and likeness to God was the very end for which Christ died."

-Andrew Bonar

"Oh that the all world but knew that happiness and holiness are one."

-Andrew Bonar

"For if sin is misery, sinners can only be made happy indeed by being made holy.  The process of redemption then is one whose design throughout is holiness." 

-Author Unknown

"There will be 3 effects of nearness to Jesus: 1) Humility 2) Happiness 3) Holiness."  

-C. H. Spurgeon

"How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path of sinners, or join a group of mockers!  Instead, his delight is in the LORD's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night."

Ps. 1:1-2 HCSB

(Quotations from authors were drawn from a sermon by Pastor Jim Savastio at the Reformed Baptist Church of Louisville given on Jan 4th, 2015)