Devotional Thoughts for the Week of March 17, 2024 - Invited to Joy
Did you see the sky last night? As we were driving home under dark bluish-gray clouds, off in the distance there was a sharp dividing line where the sky became clear and a bright gold band of sunset stood out against the horizon. It was a reminder to me of the way that joy and hardship, peace and pain can coexist. Every life knows both good and bad, but in some seasons they are woven together. Currently our prayer list is long with medical needs and other struggles. At the same time as we are interceding for those in hard places, we also rejoice at weddings and new babies coming soon, and reports of improved health. As we consider the state of the world and the nation, we are not surprised at struggles and increased trouble. Unfortunately we have come to expect world and national news to be bad. Without denying or diminishing the struggles facing us today, I want to stop and be grateful for the good, the hopeful, the joy. Like a bright gold band of sunset against a dark clouded sky, these celebrations bring beauty and lift our hearts. Let’s receive them with gratitude.
As we have been reading Deuteronomy this week we have seen reminders of many of the laws God had given to the Israelites in Leviticus now being repeated to their adult children. Amidst all of the instructions about justice and sacrifices and keeping the Sabbath holy, we find this added instruction: “Rejoice at your festival . . . seven days you are to keep the festival for Adonai your God in the place Adonai will choose, because Adonai your God will bless you in all your crops and in all your work, so you are to be full of joy!” (Deut. 16:14-15). God commanded a seven-day party (actually more than one)! Imagine the difference in these annual observances if this instruction had been omitted. They may have been solemn, quiet ritual observances that nobody looked forward to. I am so glad that God included the command to rejoice and be full of joy. We tend to think of Him as sober, serious, always wanting us to do better. This passage is a reminder though, that joy has its origin in God Himself. We are created in His image. Our capacity and desire for joy and laughter and celebration all come from Him. I do not know how you picture God, but this reminder is very good for me. Let us remember that God enjoys our joy in His gifts and His creation. In those moments, let us train ourselves to stop and look up and smile at Him - sharing our joy with the joy-Giver. What a lovely way to grow closer to Him in the journey of life. Let us bring Him joy today as we come together to worship.
Scripture has a lot to say about joy and rejoicing. I encourage you to take some time this week to study what God has said to us. Here are a few passages to help you get started:
Did you see the sky last night? As we were driving home under dark bluish-gray clouds, off in the distance there was a sharp dividing line where the sky became clear and a bright gold band of sunset stood out against the horizon. It was a reminder to me of the way that joy and hardship, peace and pain can coexist. Every life knows both good and bad, but in some seasons they are woven together. Currently our prayer list is long with medical needs and other struggles. At the same time as we are interceding for those in hard places, we also rejoice at weddings and new babies coming soon, and reports of improved health. As we consider the state of the world and the nation, we are not surprised at struggles and increased trouble. Unfortunately we have come to expect world and national news to be bad. Without denying or diminishing the struggles facing us today, I want to stop and be grateful for the good, the hopeful, the joy. Like a bright gold band of sunset against a dark clouded sky, these celebrations bring beauty and lift our hearts. Let’s receive them with gratitude.
As we have been reading Deuteronomy this week we have seen reminders of many of the laws God had given to the Israelites in Leviticus now being repeated to their adult children. Amidst all of the instructions about justice and sacrifices and keeping the Sabbath holy, we find this added instruction: “Rejoice at your festival . . . seven days you are to keep the festival for Adonai your God in the place Adonai will choose, because Adonai your God will bless you in all your crops and in all your work, so you are to be full of joy!” (Deut. 16:14-15). God commanded a seven-day party (actually more than one)! Imagine the difference in these annual observances if this instruction had been omitted. They may have been solemn, quiet ritual observances that nobody looked forward to. I am so glad that God included the command to rejoice and be full of joy. We tend to think of Him as sober, serious, always wanting us to do better. This passage is a reminder though, that joy has its origin in God Himself. We are created in His image. Our capacity and desire for joy and laughter and celebration all come from Him. I do not know how you picture God, but this reminder is very good for me. Let us remember that God enjoys our joy in His gifts and His creation. In those moments, let us train ourselves to stop and look up and smile at Him - sharing our joy with the joy-Giver. What a lovely way to grow closer to Him in the journey of life. Let us bring Him joy today as we come together to worship.
Scripture has a lot to say about joy and rejoicing. I encourage you to take some time this week to study what God has said to us. Here are a few passages to help you get started:
- And take joy in all the good that Adonai your God has given you . . . (Deut. 26:11a)
- Be joyful in the presence of Adonai your God (Deut. 27:7b)
- You make me know the path of life; in Your presence is unbounded joy, in Your right hand eternal delight (Ps. 16:11)
- Jesus said, “I have said this to you so that my joy may be in you and your joy be complete” (John 15:11)