November 29, 2012
The better we
understand God’s word, the more we find comfort in it; the darkness of trouble
arises from the darkness of ignorance – Matthew Henry
A bit later, the people were being read to and began to
understand what they were hearing. Check
it out in Nehemiah 8. As they listened,
they realized that yes indeed they are to be broken over what they hear and
tender towards God. However, God’s
blessings should make them joyful. In
expressing that joy they would find strength.
In the reading of the law they heard about a feast, a type
of “holy joy” in responding to God’s goodness.
This celebratory act had been neglected, and instead they had been going
about their “duties” as observed in the law.
Duty alone will make us dutiful and depressed. However, responding in joy will revive us and
show those around us what true religion is all about.
God’s word brings us and others to repentance, revealing the
sin inside us. And God’s word then
consoles and restores us by revealing the power in his Love to forgive.
Holiness is always needed, sorrow for sin is required…but
celebrating when finding consolation is life!
Sometimes we lose our joy simply because we are ignorant of why we have
reason to celebrate.
No comments:
Post a Comment