April 26

Deuteronomy 16:11 (NIV)
11 And rejoice before the LORD your God at the place he will ….
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Deuteronomy 16:14 (NIV)
14 Be joyful at your Feast—you, your sons and daughters, ….

Deuteronomy 16:16 (NIV)
16 … No man should appear before the LORD empty-handed:

I get the feeling that God likes a good celebration! In fact, 3 times per year all of Israel was to make a journey to (soon to be revealed) Jerusalem for 3 feasts. Passover was a memory feast designed to bring about appreciation and obedience. The other 2 feast, (Feast of Weeks and Feast of Tabernacles) were celebrations to the Lord! The people were supposed to get happy for all the things that God has done for them, and all that material blessings they had been given. God had blessed these sojourners mightily and these feasts were a celebration of that. I included the later part of verse 16 in this devotion because I think it is significant that during these celebrations, they were to come to the Lord with an offering in proportion to how the Lord had blessed them.

We are supposed to be a celebrating people! We call our Sunday Services “Celebrations” because we celebrate not only the material blessings that we have had provided to us, but the LIFE that God has given us! God has made us rich in blessings! The love, peace and joy within me, at my disposal, even at my command as a blessing to others is incredible – and that is only 3 great blessings! If we aren’t the happiest people on earth then I don’t know what to say! I know that we go through hard and difficult times, but it seems to me that we have the opportunity to live a life of celebration! Oh but for the schemes of the devil and our biggest enemy – our flesh. Resist the devil and he WILL flee and kill your flesh so you can get happy! Is it possible to celebrate in tough times? Paul was beaten and thrown into a dungeon – and he started singing. His singing not only brought his release, but it brought salvation to a whole family! Paul not only celebrated His salvation, He brought an offering to the Lord of praise!

Church, don’t come empty handed anymore! Come to church, to a meeting, to the Lord, to a lunch with a friend with something to give. Maybe it is a financial gift – PTL – maybe it is a Word from God – maybe a revelation from that morning – maybe some love to be purposely poured out on someone. When you come before the Lord, don’t come empty handed – give while you celebrate!