Life, Joy, and Pleasure in the House of God

One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.

Psalm 27:4 NIV

If you could wish for one thing, and get it, what would it be?

David asked to be with God forever.

If I’m honest, that’s not the first idea that pops into my mind. But when I think about it, of course that’s the best answer.

Why?

Because being with God himself is the greatest possible joy, fulfillment, and pleasure imaginable.

Life, Joy, Pleasure

Consider Psalm 16:11:

You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Notice, God gives us the “path of life,” fills us “with joy in [his] presence,” and there are “eternal pleasures at [his] right hand.”

All in Jesus

The best thing of all, David’s desires point us directly to Jesus.

• Jesus himself is the way, the truth, and the LIFE (John 14:6).
• Jesus offers his full joy to us (John 15:11).
• Jesus sits at the Father’s right hand, where there is eternal pleasure (ready for the verses? . . . Acts 7:55–56; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 8:1; Hebrews 10:12; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22; Revelation 3:21; Matthew 22:44; Acts 2:33).

Make your wish like David’s and seek the ONE THING that satisfies for eternity (and is available to you right now).

Devotion by Jordan Loftis, author of The Men With Bare Feet and host of The Bible Better Podcast.