And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of choice foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”
(Nehemiah 8:10, NLT)
This was on the first day of the seventh month, the Jewish equivalent for our New Year’s Day. It was the perfect time for the nation to get right with the Lord and make a fresh new beginning. The common people didn’t own copies of the Scriptures, so they where thrilled to hear the Word of God. As the nation would listen to it, they would be convicted of their sins and mourn. But nehemiah told them to stop crying and start celebrating. I’m sure they thought “Why should I celebrate if I am guilty?” I believe we have two choices; we can either focus on our mistakes and mourn about it or we can celebrate the fact that Jesus forgave us on the Cross.
I don’t know about you but I want to celebrate the second option! That doesn’t mean I forget about my mistakes, it means that I repent of my sins, I accept God’ forgiveness and then move on. That’s why Nehemiah told them to go and celebrate with good food and share it with other people.
Today let’s celebrate that we are forgiven, that He has remove our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. Let’s remember that Jesus did it all, it is finished.
Let today be a day of celebration for you and your family.
