Celebrate Good Times
The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.
Leviticus 23:1-2
I wonder how you think about God’s commands. I mean, how do you see them as a whole and your relationship with God as a result? Do you see them as a weight? A series of stones in a backpack that weighs you down? Makes it hard to do the walk of life?
Humans are pretty geared towards the negative. It’s a bit like how we think back to the garden of Eden. We remember the command to not eat the forbidden fruit. No one thinks much about God’s command to enjoy everything else!
Now, none of God's commands are there to weigh us down. When we live his ways, life is actually lighter. It’s sin that weighs us down.
But in the festivals of Leviticus we are also reminded of God’s ultimate purpose. The Leviticus commands are a result of sin. But God’s desire for humanity is to celebrate, rejoice and rest in him.
And these festivals are a taste of what’s to come. An opportunity to remember God’s grace, rejoice in his blessings with him and each other. It’s something we should do now. It’s part of why we do dinner every Sunday at Village. But it’s also something we look forward to. To the banquet festival of the lamb. Where we will celebrate Jesus, God’s goodness and his glorious grace forever.
Today:
Pray:
Leviticus 23:1-2
I wonder how you think about God’s commands. I mean, how do you see them as a whole and your relationship with God as a result? Do you see them as a weight? A series of stones in a backpack that weighs you down? Makes it hard to do the walk of life?
Humans are pretty geared towards the negative. It’s a bit like how we think back to the garden of Eden. We remember the command to not eat the forbidden fruit. No one thinks much about God’s command to enjoy everything else!
Now, none of God's commands are there to weigh us down. When we live his ways, life is actually lighter. It’s sin that weighs us down.
But in the festivals of Leviticus we are also reminded of God’s ultimate purpose. The Leviticus commands are a result of sin. But God’s desire for humanity is to celebrate, rejoice and rest in him.
And these festivals are a taste of what’s to come. An opportunity to remember God’s grace, rejoice in his blessings with him and each other. It’s something we should do now. It’s part of why we do dinner every Sunday at Village. But it’s also something we look forward to. To the banquet festival of the lamb. Where we will celebrate Jesus, God’s goodness and his glorious grace forever.
Today:
- How do you feel about God’s commands as a whole?
- What are you looking forward to in the new creation?
- How could you regularly celebrate God’s goodness?
Pray:
- Praise the Father for his grace and generosity to sinners.
- Give thanks for Jesus who gives us reason to celebrate.
- Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others rejoice in Jesus.
Posted in Leviticus
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