Corona Devo 1155

Where are some of your favorite places to be?  

At a county fair: walking through the hay-covered flooring of animal barns, riding brightly lit carnival rides, and eating my way through an expensive buffet of fried veggies, sausage sandwiches, elephant ears and freshly-squeezed lemonade... I want to be there! 

At a family gathering: loved ones visiting, playing, cooking, eating...being together.  They can't happen often enough for my heart, and the times spent together build our memories and who-we-are... I want to be there! 

How about being with other followers-in-faith and lovers-of-Jesus?  Gathered with God's people...reading His Word, understanding it, and being affected by it...  It's more than powerful, it's invigorating and motivating to be surrounded with others who love the Lord...I want to be there! 

Nehemiah and the Israelites had been working hard and working together to do God's work (against much opposition and intimidation) to complete the damaged wall around Jerusalem...and they did it.  

Their efforts were in God's name and for His glory, and when the wall was completed, they gathered to praise Him.  

The first thing they did was have a local prophet (Ezra) read from God's Word (the Book of the Law of Moses, because this was before the entire Bible had been written).  

They discussed the Scriptures, and the people got it, so much so, that they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground (Nehemiah 8:6).  I want to be there! 

But Ezra and Nehemiah didn't/wouldn't/couldn't leave God's people laying there in contrition, because it was a time of rejoicing.  They had stood for the Lord, they had persevered through their latest trials in serving Him, and it was now time to celebrate God and what He had done!  I want to be there! 

...all the people assembled with a unified purpose at the square... They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given for Israel to obey.  

(2) So... Ezra the priest brought the Book of the Law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand. (3) He faced the square...from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law.  

(4) Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform that had been made for the occasion... (5) Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people. When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet.  

(6) Then Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people chanted, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.  

(7) The Levites...—then instructed the people in the Law while everyone remained in their places. (8) They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage.  

(9) Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.    

(10) And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”  

(11) And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, “Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.” 

(12) So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.  ~Nehemiah 8:1-12

Don't we want to be there!?

In a gathering of Believers where someone holds-up and upholds the Word of God?  I want to be there! 

Where someone shares God's Word (verbatim--nothing added) and where others gather in reverence to God and His Word...and where people understand God's Words?  I want to be there! 

Seeking God, aware of God, in respect/submission/and in awe of God: I want to be there! 

Makes me want to chant, “Amen! Amen!” (Nehemiah 8:6).

~~~

Have we been persevering through life's trials, serving God all along the way?  Do we stand for God's Word and ways, even amidst intimidation?  Are we (doing our best) to live for Him?

Then celebrate today.

  

God gives us permission in the Bible and even examples.  Nehemiah and the Israelites persevered and it was now time to celebrate God and what He had done!  I want to be there! 

Even though the closer we get to God, the more filthy we realize our sin makes us in comparison...God doesn't see it that way.  He is so pleased with our drawing-near-to-Him that He blesses us and tells us to enjoy ourselves because of Him and because of our obedience to Him.  

Who is this God that we serve?  He blows my mind.   I want to be with Him!

“Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this!...  (10) ...“Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared... Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”  ~Nehemiah 8:9-10

~~~

We all have our favorite places, but being with Jesus and other followers-of-Jesus who are seeking/serving/being-affected-by/ and honoring Him...I want to be there more than I want to be anywhere else.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com