I really think inside of every person is a desire to find happiness. C.S. Lewis once wrote: " It is a Christian duty for everyone to be happy as he can."
King David exclaims in Psalm 34:8 " O taste and see (for yourselves) that the Lord is good!" Earlier in Psalm 37:4, David says to "Delight yourselves in the Lord!"
Saint Paul declares in Philippians 4:4 " Rejoice in the Lord...and do this always...continually...and I will tell you again...establish your joy in this...knowing the Lord!"
In Nehemiah chapter 8, the construction of the wall surrounding Jerusalem had just been completed, and Jewish exiles from Persia were now returning to their homeland.
Ezra was requested to read the "Book of the Law of Moses." Ezra did read to the people, from early morning to mid-day. The key to this reading of the Law by Ezra was this: the people were listening!
Actually, the way it was written from Nehemiah 8:3 " Ezra read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning to mid-day, and all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law".
What was so impressive to me was verse 5 of Nehemiah 8, "When Ezra opened the Book of the Law, all the people stood up."
The Psalmist in chapter 119:97 writes: "O how I love Your Law! It is my meditation...all day long!"
In Nehemiah 8:9, the people returning to the homeland had a strong reaction to the reading of the "Law of Moses. It reads " All the people were weeping when they heard the Words of the Law"...then Ezra encouraged them in this manner:"Do not mourn or weep...that is not the purpose of reading this to you this day."
Instead, Ezra commands them in Nehemiah 8:10 " Go, eat the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to those who do not have fat or drink...because you are beginning to see when your hearts are given to Him...then the Joy of the Lord becomes your very strength!"
Have you ever wondered: why does a local bar on a Saturday night able to draw more people than a church service on a Sunday morning?
Often times I have heard friends say to me..."Let's go to " so and so" bar or dance place and "have a good time!"
It is not too often I have heard "Let's go to church and" have a good time."
I think part of the that outlook is this: we don't know how to celebrate who is the Giver of Life, and as a result we don't enjoy the gift(s) He may have for us.
Sometimes I think our mentality is we need to payback the Giver...like being in debt...
God does not expect a payback from us...because we can never payback for the wrong things we have done.
I think that is the heart of true Christianity...we can never pay God back. If we could in any way, then why did He die on a Cross for us?
The only way I know to "payback" God is to accept the fact what Christ Jesus did for us at His work at the Cross...to simply acknowledge our need to repent and invite the work and love of Jesus into our very hearts and lives. Then, rejoicing in His Presence becomes a real possibility...and we find our true happiness...in Him!
Then, we begin to change..and become more and more...like Him!"
King David exclaims in Psalm 34:8 " O taste and see (for yourselves) that the Lord is good!" Earlier in Psalm 37:4, David says to "Delight yourselves in the Lord!"
Saint Paul declares in Philippians 4:4 " Rejoice in the Lord...and do this always...continually...and I will tell you again...establish your joy in this...knowing the Lord!"
In Nehemiah chapter 8, the construction of the wall surrounding Jerusalem had just been completed, and Jewish exiles from Persia were now returning to their homeland.
Ezra was requested to read the "Book of the Law of Moses." Ezra did read to the people, from early morning to mid-day. The key to this reading of the Law by Ezra was this: the people were listening!
Actually, the way it was written from Nehemiah 8:3 " Ezra read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning to mid-day, and all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law".
What was so impressive to me was verse 5 of Nehemiah 8, "When Ezra opened the Book of the Law, all the people stood up."
The Psalmist in chapter 119:97 writes: "O how I love Your Law! It is my meditation...all day long!"
In Nehemiah 8:9, the people returning to the homeland had a strong reaction to the reading of the "Law of Moses. It reads " All the people were weeping when they heard the Words of the Law"...then Ezra encouraged them in this manner:"Do not mourn or weep...that is not the purpose of reading this to you this day."
Instead, Ezra commands them in Nehemiah 8:10 " Go, eat the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to those who do not have fat or drink...because you are beginning to see when your hearts are given to Him...then the Joy of the Lord becomes your very strength!"
Have you ever wondered: why does a local bar on a Saturday night able to draw more people than a church service on a Sunday morning?
Often times I have heard friends say to me..."Let's go to " so and so" bar or dance place and "have a good time!" It is not too often I have heard "Let's go to church and" have a good time."
I think part of the that outlook is this: we don't know how to celebrate who is the Giver of Life, and as a result we don't enjoy the gift(s) He may have for us.
Sometimes I think our mentality is we need to payback the Giver...like being in debt...
God does not expect a payback from us...because we can never payback for the wrong things we have done.
I think that is the heart of true Christianity...we can never pay God back. If we could in any way, then why did He die on a Cross for us?
The only way I know to "payback" God is to accept the fact what Christ Jesus did for us at His work at the Cross...to simply acknowledge our need to repent and invite the work and love of Jesus into our very hearts and lives. Then, rejoicing in His Presence becomes a real possibility...and we find our true happiness...in Him!
Then, we begin to change..and become more and more...like Him!"
No comments:
Post a Comment