lev 23.4 In addition to the Sabbath, these are the Lord’s appointed festivals, the official days for holy assembly that are to be celebrated at their proper times each year. Is it becoming clear that God had his people celebrate a lot? These biblical texts we have been reading this week are all from the early days of God with his people. I thought he was a God of rules who wants to make sure we never enjoy ourselves? The great Dampener? The great Downer? I guess not. Pray to expand your vision of God and what he represents.
How To Be A Christian Without Being A Jerk
Faith in real life
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fun
ex 12.14
This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the Lord. This is a law for all time.
I can remember ordering the children to have fun when they were younger. “Now go outside and have fun. That’s an order!”
Our Father knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows that to remember what he has done that is so amazing brings us joy. Since the incarnation and the resurrection of Jesus are in the middle of it all, the ways we could screw up Christmas and Easter with things that aren’t connected to Jesus as many. We still manage to experience that joy.
Pray to be more open to the good things that are going on around you today.
celebrate
Monday
“Celebration” is defined as “utter joy in ourselves, our life, and our world as a result of our faith and confidence in God’s greatness, beauty, and goodness.” (The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible) This may be the most difficult spiritual discipline to actually practice.
Relying on God can’t be forced or faked. Others will be able to tell. It’s one thing to study Scripture and see that greatness, beauty and goodness can’t be ignored. If you are inspired by these attributes you will have joy pouring out of you.
Don’t be afraid of letting yourself be impressed by God. Pray for this.
now
Revelation 7:17
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
We don’t lose our need for Jesus when we live in his complete Kingdom for good. We are now living in this new creation, and as Jesus continues to expand his Kingdom, he expands our understanding if we let him, so he might expand our usefulness.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill you as you invite him in.
openness
James 3:15-18
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
We don’t have 100% understanding of the mind of God. Not even close. We do have an indication of what might be from God. That which reflects God’s character. We do have everything we need to live his Way.
Pray for openness for God to build your character.
wisdom
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
When you want to understand something that will help you make progress living God’s Ways, he will give it to you. All you have to do is ask.
Pray for wisdom in matters of faith and life.
wander
2 John 1:9
Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.
When you start getting away from the overall message of the Bible and start adding to it then you have wandered away from God. There is nothing that is happening today that changes the way you would think about the Bible. God has known what is happening today from eternity.
Pray for confidence to actually take God at his Word.
skepticism
1 Peter 1:16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. The first disciples are eyewitnesses and are the source behind almost all of the New Testament. The fact that the stories vary and appear to us this way doesn’t make me think they are less accurate. They appear more accurate, because if I was making it up as the editor, I would have made them all as identical as possible! A reasonable hypothesis is they are left with their differences (though no doctrine is different) because this is how it happened according to the eyewitness. Pray for any personal skepticism to be based on reason.
straight ahead
Galatians 5:25
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
God is always moving ahead of us and we do well to keep up. This doesn’t just mean moving forward, it also means not veering to the left or right. Straight ahead. How?
Be open. Be receptive. Be ready. Put one foot in front of the other. That works.
Pray for perseverance in walking with the Spirit.
receive
John 16:13
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
We are not waiting for the Spirit of truth to come. If Jesus is your Lord and you trust in him, he has given you his Spirit. The Spirit of truth, or Holy Spirit, is with you in a guiding way as a person of the Trinity. All that is required is you receive him.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill you with guidance this day.
