S) "11 and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite who is in your town, and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your midst, in the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His name."
Deuteronomy 16:11 (NASB)
O) This verse is a command to celebrate during the Feast of Weeks, after bringing a tribute of freewill offering to the LORD (see v.10), and it only varies a little bit from the command to celebrate the Feast of Booths (see v.14). The main difference between those two seems to be that the FoW includes an offering. The Passover, as described earlier in the chapter, is altogether different, as a solemn feast (see v.8). What caught my eye, especially, was the inclusive nature of this celebration. First, the "Old Testament God" is seen as so wrathful and serious, that most people don't realize He wants a giant celebration in 2 of the 3 major Feasts that are established for His people. But, even beyond that, these celebrations are to include everyone around! That is a big revelation of the heart of God to reach all people with His grace and love!
A) While I was reading this, I was trying hard to envision a way to incorporate the FoW and the FoB into my life. One of the problems I have, is that the work they did was seasonal, whereas my work is pretty steady throughout the year. So, timing it to anything in my life, it seems like it's almost arbitrary. But, the main thing is that I want to celebrate the provision of the LORD in a major way, twice a year. One with a particular offering to God, remembering where my family has been and how God has saved us. The other, with an altogether joyful celebration to praise Him for the blessings He has given to us. Regardless of how I might be able to execute this, I will, at the very least, acknowledge the goodness of the LORD, and be joyful because of it.
P) Father, You are so good to me and my family, I could never praise You enough. But, I do want to be dedicated to praising You throughout my life. Help me make a plan for this, with my wife, so we can thank You specifically in this way, with true joy and celebration, with an annual offering, specifically in thanks for Your provision, and with an annual feast, a party, specifically thanking You for the blessings You pour out on our family. My faith and hope is in Your name alone. My joy and my celebration is all from You alone. Every good and perfect gift comes from You, just as Your word says in James 1:17. You make my heart glad, knowing that You are my provider, and that You want to bless me in a way that causes celebration in my home. Help me continue to see blessings from Your perspective, not measuring success or provision as the world does, but as You define it. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
A) While I was reading this, I was trying hard to envision a way to incorporate the FoW and the FoB into my life. One of the problems I have, is that the work they did was seasonal, whereas my work is pretty steady throughout the year. So, timing it to anything in my life, it seems like it's almost arbitrary. But, the main thing is that I want to celebrate the provision of the LORD in a major way, twice a year. One with a particular offering to God, remembering where my family has been and how God has saved us. The other, with an altogether joyful celebration to praise Him for the blessings He has given to us. Regardless of how I might be able to execute this, I will, at the very least, acknowledge the goodness of the LORD, and be joyful because of it.
P) Father, You are so good to me and my family, I could never praise You enough. But, I do want to be dedicated to praising You throughout my life. Help me make a plan for this, with my wife, so we can thank You specifically in this way, with true joy and celebration, with an annual offering, specifically in thanks for Your provision, and with an annual feast, a party, specifically thanking You for the blessings You pour out on our family. My faith and hope is in Your name alone. My joy and my celebration is all from You alone. Every good and perfect gift comes from You, just as Your word says in James 1:17. You make my heart glad, knowing that You are my provider, and that You want to bless me in a way that causes celebration in my home. Help me continue to see blessings from Your perspective, not measuring success or provision as the world does, but as You define it. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment