NEHEMIAH 8:10

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

TO PONDER:

We all love a good party, a joyful celebration, right?

As an introvert myself, I get the dread associated with crowds, small talk, and forced smiles aimed towards people I hope don’t then want to respond with conversation, but I still enjoy the idea of a good party.

Today’s verse was written, almost aimed towards, people like myself and if I’m being honest, to quite a few Lutheran congregations. Nehemiah says to God’s people “Go and party and share the party with your neighbours”, this, right here, sounds like how church should be, a joyful celebration with joyful people who have a joyful reason to celebrate joyfully (too many joyfuls? Apparently not). 

Nehemiah continues with a surprising statement “the joy of the Lord is your strength,” not “the happiness of the Lord” (go back and re-read yesterday’s post) joy based in God and who he is and what he has done, is our strength. The celebration Nehemiah was referencing in the verse is one specifically to remember who God is and what God had already done for his people, how he rescued them from slavery and provided for them on their long journey to the promised land.

Joy is, in effect, our super-natural power, the power which makes us bullet-proof to the shots fired at us in tough times, in a cost-of-living crisis, when a pipe explodes in the bathroom at 5:50am (happened to me yesterday).

Partying is our superpower. 

PRAYER: Loving Father, You are not the patriarchal, judgemental, grumpy God with the big stick to be feared but rather you are loving, faithful, forgiving God who is worth celebrating daily. Amen.

Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay WestSide