Devotions: The Joy of the Lord

 

Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10 New American Standard Bible 1995

 

The Israelites had returned from exile after 70 years and had been working hard to rebuild the temple and city walls. In the process, they uncovered the book of the Law which was read in front of everyone. The people were grieved deeply by what they heard for they realized how greatly they had offended God without His instructions, yet Nehemiah encouraged them to not be overcome with grief, but to participate in the feast and Sabbath and rejoice in God.

There is definitely a place for repentance, and we cannot have true joy or salvation without it, but it is just as wrong to stay in a state of perpetual remorse. Jesus did not come to condemn but to save and restore. Once we have repented of our sin we need to turn to God, away from our sin, and rejoice in His mercy and salvation. God does not intend for us to be people of sorrow but of joy. More than that, it was the Sabbath, a day that was meant for rejoicing in the Lord, and the beginning of one of their holy feasts, another time for rejoicing. When we are faced with our sin we need to deal with it and then move on. Ignoring it and remaining stuck in remorse over it are both wrong responses to conviction, and both are from the enemy, either pride in refusing to acknowledge our wrong or self pity in refusing to accept God’s forgiveness and restoration. Condemnation is from the enemy. Conviction is from God and leads to forgiveness and restoration.

Have you been confronted with your sin? How do you respond to it: do you ignore it, repent of it, or fall into despair over it? If you have given your life to Jesus, then your sins have been washed away. You no longer need to stay in them out of ignorance or self pity. Acknowledge your sin, turn away from it and accept Jesus’ forgiveness, then you can rightfully find strength in the joy of the Lord!

If you have not given your life to Christ, will you now? Do you see your need to have your sin forgiven? Will you admit your wrong and ask Him to forgive you and make you clean?

 

 sorry this is late, busy day yesterday...

 

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