Nehemiah 8:10 ESV
Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
This day is holy to the Lord, therefore, throw a party! Why, because “the joy of the Lord is your strength”! God is not a prude; nor is He a wimp: and neither is He a drunkard. Yet, the command is to enjoy life because God has given us so many blessings.
One thing I have learned from 3rd world countries is that life is so hard, so tedious, so tiring that the people need a party. Now, what this ‘party’ often turns into is NOT good for the partiers: but the fault of poor partiers does not make a party bad. God incorporated celebrations so that the people would celebrate rightly. And He incorporated them fairly often: thus insuring that the people had a creative way to enjoy Him and the life He gave without sin.
One more thing to note: incorporated in the command is the command to ‘send portions to anyone who has nothing ready’. In the party, give to those who can’t celebrate. The kind of heart that does this is the kind of heart that God loves: this is the kind of heart that God isn’t worrying about partying because the party won’t turn into something it shouldn’t be.
Praise You Father for reasons to party.
Praise You Son for partying with us.
Praise you Spirit for a heart to party correctly.
Party on dude!
Pastor Greg
No comments:
Post a Comment