Untraditional

By Ife J. Ibitayo

My short story “Untraditional” has been published in issue #81 of Andromeda Spaceways Magazine. This is my first accepted publication. This is a story about identity and in some ways deals with how I’ve struggled with my own:

ASM #81

Story Excerpt

“Just play whatever,” C. Lynxis said. T. Kes plugged his ears with his fingers and winked. Michael plucked a few random notes. Then, a song his mother used to play came to him. It had been years since he had heard that song, but the notes came easily. As he began to pluck the lullaby, his blue wing began to twitch, producing a beautiful accompaniment. He almost stopped playing in surprise, but he managed to keep on going. The song took him back to the days when his mother used to hold him, cradling him in her arms, looking down in his face and cooing.

The memory was sweet, and he didn’t want it to end. But, after a few more minutes, he reached the dying note. He opened his eyes, not even realizing he had closed them. He wiped away the wetness from his cheeks.

C. Lynxis looked at T. Kes, who looked back at her, and they both looked back at Michael. The silence stretched for at least a minute or two before T. Kes said, “That was okay” just as C. Lynxis said, “You were amazing.” C. Lynxis glared at T. Kes and said, “I think what he meant to say was that was beautiful.”

He glared back at C. Lynxis and said, “I know what I said, and I meant it,” T. Kes got up and stomped into his bedroom, slamming the door.

Michael stared at his palms, not sure what to think. He felt a soft presence on his shoulders, warm and soothing. He looked up and saw C. Lynxis’ purple wings. She was smiling down at him, sadness in her eyes. “He’s been through a lot. He’ll come around.” She also went into the bedroom and closed the door.

Like Father, Like Son (Power of Legacy Part 1)

By Ife J. Ibitayo

With the United States’ election saga nearing its climactic close, now is an especially relevant time to consider the power of legacy. There were many powerful leaders in the Bible from staff-wielding Moses to fish-catching Peter. They came from different walks of life, possessed differing levels of education, and leveraged distinct leadership styles. But they all shared one thing in common, they all left behind a legacy.

The Vision

King David was a truly epic king, beloved by his followers and the LORD alike. He founded the Israelite empire, established true worship to the LORD, and yearned to build God a beautiful temple in Jerusalem. But God would not let him. God told King David, “‘“You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for My Name. Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for My Name”’” (1 Kings 8:18-19 NIV). This son was King Solomon.

God thinks big. Often times, He will lay visions on our hearts that go beyond our capabilities and even our lifetimes. However, these visions will never be realized unless we convince other people to buy into them. King David succeeded in implanting his vision in his son before he passed away.

Implanting the Vision

His first and most important step in this process was passing on His love of the LORD to his son. The book of 1 Kings records that “Solomon loved the LORD and followed all the decrees of his father, David” (1 Kings 3:3a NLT). True imitation begins not with the hands but the heart. If our successors don’t have the same heart we have, they will ultimately take a different path, or they’ll follow in our footsteps for all the wrong reasons.

Enabling the Vision

King David’s second step was giving his son a thorough recipe for success. He gave Solomon the full extent of the revelation God had given him concerning the temple (1 Chronicles 28:11-19). And he gave his son all the manpower and supplies he could muster (1 Chronicles 22:1-5, 28:21). He did everything possible to ensure his son’s success in fulfilling the vision.

Articulating the Vision

Lastly, King David gave Solomon a clear articulation of the vision on his heart. King David told his son, “‘As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it’” (1 Chronicles 28:9-10 NKJV).

King David succinctly expressed the vision, laid out the blessing that awaited his son if he succeeded, and expressed the consequences if he did not. These words must have stayed with King Solomon all the years of his life and spurred him on as he completed one of the greatest wonders of the ancient world.

Conclusion

King Solomon’s success began with his father’s passion. King David’s legacy lived on because the story of his life was bejeweled with love for the LORD. Here was a man who sang (Psalm 7, 8, 23), danced (2 Samuel 6:14), and fought for the LORD (1 Samuel 17:45-47). King Solomon did not finish his greatest life’s work in spite of his father but because of him. 

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

(Proverbs 22:6 ESV)

Brave New Year

By Ife J. Ibitayo

There once was a man, a noble savage of sorts, who was taken from a reservation to experience the high life of London. When he arrived in the big city, he was awed by the novelty of civilization: Its fine food, bodacious women, and virtual reality entertainment titillated his senses and stoked his curiosity. But as he grew in understanding of the “paradise” he’d come to trust in–a plush cage where the masses were controlled by drugs and sex–he retreated into seclusion and ultimately committed suicide.

This may seem like a pretty dark way to start off 2021. For many, this new year embodies the hope 2020 was supposed to. We expect recovery in our health, finances, and social lives. But we shouldn’t repeat the mistake we made last year.

We should never pin our hopes on anything as flimsy as the dawning of a new year. Tossing out our old calendars and putting up new ones doesn’t mean that salvation will magically materialize on January 1st, or even December 31st. In 2021, vaccines may ruin as many lives as they protect, sitting presidents may refuse to leave office, and economies may continue to plummet as unrealistic expectations drive foolish corporate choices.  But as this year comes to a close, there are plenty of ways we can prepare for the next.

Reflect

As I said in my article “Looking Back, Moving Forward”, we must not forget the perspective we gained this past year. This holiday season gives us a golden opportunity to reflect on 2020. We can honestly evaluate the lessons we’ve learned through quarantine and Zoom calls, remote work and virtual church services, homecooked meals and home-rigged gyms.  

Resolve

We can also choose to do better in 2021. A new you doesn’t have to wait until a new year. But there is indeed something fresh and powerful about a New Year’s Resolution. We can start over and begin anew as better parents, better lovers, and better remote employees.

But we mustn’t fall into the trap of trying harder. There’s a reason that 80% of people who make a New Year’s Resolution drop it by the second week of February. Jesus said, “‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing’” (John 15:5 NIV). Faithfulness is not woven into our DNA. By nature all of us are unreliable. But God is not. “The faithful love of the Lord never ends” (Lamentations 3:22a NLT) is one of countless verses that point us to the reliability of our Heavenly Father. And we can tap into this faithfulness by depending on His Spirit more and our strength less.

Rejoice

Lastly, this new year gives us an opportunity to rejoice. The word rejoice literally means “to experience joy again.” I’m sure I’m not the only one who struggled with finding joy in 2020. We’ve lost loved ones, missed momentous occasions, and experienced great loss. But God Himself says, “‘I will repay for the years the locusts have eaten’” (Joel 2:25 NIV). In other words, God will restore to us the progress we’ve lost, the dreams we’ve given up on, and the pursuits we’ve delayed because He is a God of reversal. He turns mourning to dancing (Psalm 30:11), barrenness to new life (Isaiah 54:1), and deserts to gardens (Isaiah 51:3). He’s done it before; He’ll do it again, and we can rejoice in this truth.

Conclusion

I can’t say that 2021 will be a better year than 2020. If 2020 has taught me anything, it’s that years can’t be trusted to bring good, no matter how hashtag-able they are. But I know a God who rules over time and sets the course of decades. I know He is trustworthy, and I will continue to trust Him as I step into this brave new year.

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.”

(Lamentation 3:22-23 NIV)

Looking Back, Moving Forward

By Ife J. Ibitayo

What a year! This was supposed to be the year of 20/20 vision, of renewed clarity. In a way, I think it was. We saw all too clearly the brokenness of our world, the selfishness of the prosperous, and the fragility of the human psyche. After such a sight, it’s no surprise that Forbes magazine released an article entitled, “Forget 2020.” We all want to leave pain in the past. But is the key to moving forward forgetting what lies behind?

Remember the Cultivation

“Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character” (Deuteronomy 8:2a NLT). Moses gave the Israelites the instruction to remember, not forget, their wilderness wandering because God had used it to humble them.

I’ve definitely experienced humbling this year. I’ve seen the heights of my pride and the depths of my neediness. I’ve had my prayers for patience answered by painful months of waiting. But I’ve also learned to say with Apostle James, “When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be mature and complete, needing nothing” (James 1:2-4 NLT).  To forget the pruning the Lord has done on the wild vines of my heart this year, would be like attending a difficult course for a whole semester and skipping the final exam. It would give me momentary reprieve, but my months of struggle would be all for naught.

Remember the Miracles

Moses went on to tell the Israelites that God “led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock! He fed you with manna in the wilderness” (Deuteronomy 8:15-16a NLT). To forget 2020 would be to neglect the ways God showed up mightily this year. Incalculable lives were lost to disease, but there were also countless souls healed. Financial ruin spread like California’s wildfires, yet there were also loans secured, evictions deferred, and basic necessities met. Tears of sadness may be drying on our faces, but we still have reason to lift our hands in praise.

Remember the LORD

Lastly, Moses said, “remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful” (Deuteronomy 8:18 NLT). All human beings have an innate tendency to pat themselves on the backs. But when we reach the end of ourselves, as many of us have this past year, we find the beginning of grace. We begin to understand the reality of our eternal dependence on our sovereign Creator.

Conclusion

As we step into the new year, let’s not forget the perspective we’ve gained. Let’s carry the character we’ve built, the provision we’ve enjoyed, and the grace we’ve received into 2021.

“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.”

(Romans 8:28 CSB)

The Hope of Paupers and Princes (Overtures from the Advent-ures of Jesus Christ Pt. 2)

By Ife J. Ibitayo

For Part 1 on “A Pregnancy Delayed”, click here.

At first blush, the coming of the shepherds and the magi to see baby Jesus couldn’t be more different: the first were poor, the latter wealthy; the first were locals, the latter foreigners; the first entered a dark cave, the latter a well-lit home. Yet there are several surprising similarities in their experiences.

They Came

After the angels proclaimed the arrival of the Messiah with a holy choir, (Matthew 2:9-14), the Word says “the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off” (Matthew 2:15-16a NIV). Similarly, the magi told King Herod, “‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him’” (Matthew 2:2 NIV).

The shepherds left their sheep to see the Good Shepherd, and the princes left their kingdom to pay homage to the true King. They welcomed the interruption of God in their lives.

The Christmas season is supposed to be a chance for recuperation and reorientation. Yet many of us find ourselves frazzled and harried. We’re planning a Zoom Christmas celebration with our extended family while watching kids wrapping up their semesters while serving on a holiday church committee, or three. Like Martha we may have become worried and upset over many things, while missing the one thing that really matters (Luke 10:41-42).

They Rejoiced

On their way to see baby Jesus, the magi once again laid eyes on the star that had guided them thus far. And they were overjoyed (Matthew 2:10). The shepherds too left the holy infant, “glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard” (Luke 2:20). Taking the time to commemorate the birth of Life Incarnate should similarly lift our spirits.

They Worshiped

Lastly, both the paupers and the princes worshiped Jesus. Specifically with the kings, the Word says “they bowed down” (Matthew 2:10). They debased themselves before the true King.

Christmas is a season where it can be particularly easy to turn our focus inward: maximizing our vacation time, seizing the best holiday deals, and scarfing down the best food. But we forget that December 25th is not John-mas or Jill-mas but Christ-mas. It’s all about Him. And we’d do well to lay down our crowns at the feet of the proper Prince.

Conclusion

The story of the magi’s visit to Jesus ends with them presenting Him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11). These presents were of incalculable worth, befitting royalty. Yet their presents paled in comparison to the gift Jesus Christ gave them in return: Himself. As we down eggnog and share holiday cheer, let’s turn our eyes upward. Let’s never forget the Christ that made Christmas.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6 NIV)

A Pregnancy Delayed (Overtures from the Advent-ures of Jesus Christ Part 1)

By Ife J. Ibitayo

Most people the world over know of the existence of Jesus Christ. Far fewer know about John the Baptist—His forerunner and prophet. An amazing story describes this great man’s birth.

Delayed Prayers Do Not Equate with Unrighteous Character

To begin his gospel, the Apostle Luke says, “In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old” (Luke 1:5-7 NIV).

The first lesson that can be learned from the lives of Zechariah and Elizabeth is that the prayers of righteous people can be frustrated. Even Jesus Himself, the most righteous being who’s ever existed, received a “No” from God. When He uttered the words “may this cup be taken from me” (Matthew 26:39 NIV), He spoke of His righteous desire to avoid separation from His heavenly Father. Yet the Father still executed the judgment we deserved upon His Son.

A prayer delayed—or denied—does not always point to hidden sin.

Delayed Prayers Do Not Equate with Unanswered Prayers

But even if a prayer is delayed far longer than we expect it to be, that does not mean the prayer will remain unanswered. Luke 1:13 says, “But the angel said to him: ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John’” (Luke 1:13 NIV).

As young children wait for Christmas to come, the passage of time feels excruciatingly long to them. But as the days pass, their sense of anticipation doesn’t wane. It waxes stronger because they know that Christmas Day will come.

We should practice the same childlike behavior as we wait on God, trusting that each day doesn’t take us further from fulfillment but closer, no matter how long we wait.

Delayed Prayers Do Not Equate with Ill-Timed Answers

When the angel told Zechariah that his wife would bear a son, he asked, “‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.’ The angel said to him, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time’” (Luke 1:18-20 NIV).

Zechariah had given up on his prayer long ago. His disbelief ran so deep that the prophecy of a holy angelic being was not enough to dispel his doubt. The season for a having a son, it seemed, had passed.

But God didn’t share his conclusion. John the Baptist’s miraculous birth foreshadowed Jesus’ impossible conception. And the ministry of John the Baptist paved the way for Jesus’ saving work (Luke 1:76). John the Baptist didn’t arrive a day late; he came right on time.

Conclusion

God may not give us the victory we believe we deserve at the time we want. But “the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their prayer” (1 Peter 3:12 NIV). He will come through, now or later.

“For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”

(Habakkuk 2:3 NIV)

The Foolish, Faithful Faith of Abraham

By Ife J. Ibitayo

Many of us are in a season of waiting right now. We’ve just finished Thanksgiving, and we’re trying to hang on until Christmas. We’ve been following the election cycle, and we’re anxiously seeking the end of this extended conundrum. We’re yearning for 2021 and its promise of a vaccine.

Abraham, the father of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, was no stranger to waiting. It defined his life. At the ripe old age of seventy-five, God promised him that he’d become a father of many nations (Genesis 17:5-6). Yet it wasn’t until Abraham reached the grave-knocking age of one hundred that God gave him his son Isaac.

The Foolishness of Faith

True faith will often look ridiculous to those who don’t believe. The Apostle Paul said Abraham “did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb” (Romans 4:19 CSB).

Now that we’ve seen the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham, it can be easy to diminish the sheer craziness of his faith. By the time God promised him he’d have a son, he was already old enough to be a grandfather. Stories must have abounded of the crazy, rich nomad that somehow thought his creaky wife would give birth to a son before they both kicked the bucket. Their whole family carried the shame and disgrace of believing in a vision from some little-known God that no one else worshiped at the time. Genuine faith often only looks reasonable in hindsight.

The Faithfulness of Faith

The Apostle Paul goes on to say about Abraham, “He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do” (Romans 4:20-21 CSB). Faith hangs on. It takes it stand on the sure foundation of God’s promise even as the waters rise to its throat. It believes God when He says He knows a guy who can walk on water (Matthew 14:22-33).

The Fulfillment of Faith

Summing up the fulfillment of this righteous man’s faith, the author of Hebrews says, “And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore” (Hebrews 11:12 NIV). Abraham lay hold of the promise God gave to him because he held on to God. He suffered the shame, endured the wait, and embraced glory and joy unimaginable because he had faith. The question remains if we’ll have the patience to receive our own Isaac.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation.”

(Hebrews 11:1-2 ESV)

Big Problems, Bigger God

By Ife J. Ibitayo

It’s been more than six months since I wrote about my “Petty Problems”. Since then, my problems have grown tremendously. I’ve struggled with throat-constricting anxiety, debilitating stress, and crippling loneliness. I’ve been examined by an ophthalmologist, a cardiologist, and a psychologist. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I’m like a mountaineer climbing Mount Everest who had his feet sliced off and his legs shattered.

As I continue to drag myself up this unending mountain, head buried in the frigid snow, the LORD sent me this verse: “He humbled you by letting you go hungry; then he gave you manna to eat, which you and your fathers had not known, so that you might learn that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” (Deuteronomy 8:3 CSB)

Point of Humbling

The word translated “humbled” in this verse is the Hebrew word “anah”, meaning to be brought low. To be humbled is to be forced from a position of strength to a posture of submission, from sufficiency to need.

Apostle Paul said “we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV). As my life unraveled before my eyes, I came to cherish these words. Affliction has weighed down my back but hasn’t crushed me. My circumstances have confused me, but God has rescued me from despair. I’ve been battered time and time again, but here I stand all because of His “surpassing power”.

Point of Waiting

I’ve seen the necessity of relying on God’s word alone. God’s promises and character have proven to be far better barometers for the future than what I can see in my day to day life. Just as I know that researchers are working on a vaccine to cure coronavirus but can only see the death count spiking in our nation, I know that God is working all things together for my good (Romans 8:28), even when I can only see my mounting suffering.

If I want to make it till tomorrow, I can’t depend on what my eyes can see today. I have to view reality through lenses of faith.

Conclusion

I cannot promise myself that “everything will turn out okay”. I don’t know if my worries of today will become reality tomorrow or be dispelled with the new year. All I can do is wait. My problems are big and growing by the week, but my God is even bigger. And I still believe in Him.

“I believed, even when I said, ‘I am severely oppressed.’”

(Psalm 116: 10 CSB)

The Quenching Tsunami and the Purifying Fire (Broken Hallelujah Pt. 4)

By Ife J. Ibitayo

For Part 1 on “A Foundation of Rejoicing and Regret”, click here; Part 2 on “Expecting Much but Finding Little”, click here; Part 3 on “A Tearful Thanksgiving”, click here.

The book of Psalms is the Christian poster child of the Thanksgiving season. These poems have greatly cheered my soul and contain rich wisdom for us during this holiday season.

A Faithful God

In Psalm 89, a psalmist named Ethan the Ezrahite extols the faithfulness of God: “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make Your faithfulness known through all generations…. ‘I have found David My servant; with My sacred oil I have anointed him… I will maintain My love to him forever, and My covenant with him will never fail’” (Psalm 89:1, 20, 28 NIV).

The psalmist rejoiced in the LORD’s unchanging character. God promised that He’d be with the Israelites and with their king, David. He vowed they’d be His people and He’d be their God forever (2 Samuel 7:24).

A Quenching Tsunami

Yet the psalmist’s joy was quenched by the harsh tsunami of reality: “But You have rejected, You have spurned, You have been very angry with Your anointed one…How long, Lord? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will Your wrath burn like fire…Lord, where is Your former great love, which in Your faithfulness You swore to David” (Psalm 89:38, 46, 49 NIV)?

Many of us may share this same sentiment. We live in a nation known for the blessing of the LORD, yet America is being ravaged by a resurgent virus. God seems to be pouring out His wrath full blast upon us. Where is His right hand of blessing, His strong arm of salvation, the comfort of His presence? Where is His faithfulness?

A Healing Punishment

Bridging the psalmist’s song of praise and his lament of sorrow are these four verses: “If his children forsake My law and do not walk according to My rules, if they violate My statutes and do not keep My commandments, then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes, but I will not remove from him My steadfast love or be false to My faithfulness” (Psalm 89:30-33 ESV).

Discipline is never welcome. A child will never thank their parents for being grounded, and a driver will never thank a cop for a speeding ticket. But its these very punishments that can heal our destructive habits. Judgment can sometimes be the only way to save us from ourselves.

Conclusion

Psalm 89 ends with “Praise be to the Lord forever! Amen and Amen” (Psalm 89:52 NIV). These words may seem misplaced, but they are truly fitting. The end result of a lesson well learned should be gratitude. The fire of discipline may be agonizing, but there is a bright future ahead for those who endure the flame.

“And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, ‘My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.’”

(Hebrews 12:5-6 NLT)

A Tearful Thanksgiving (Broken Hallelujah Pt. 3)

By Ife J. Ibitayo

For Part 1 on “A Foundation of Rejoicing and Regret”, click here. For Part 2 on “Expecting Much but Finding Little”, click here.

With Thanksgiving coming in a couple weeks, many positive scriptures are rightly on people’s minds. Verses like “the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10b) pop up in our “Verse of the Day” apps. And we find ourselves repeating these words without grasping the original context in which they were spoken.

Background

The LORD had restored the exiles to their homeland of Jerusalem. They had just finished reconstructing their city’s protective wall. But the returnees were few in number and homeless (Nehemiah 7:4). It was the beginning of the Israelites’ holiday season, the first day of the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. But here they were living in ruin, far from their friends and families still in exile.

New Year

The first day of the seventh month is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. As the Jews stepped into a new year, they sought the LORD’s will.  “[A]ll the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel… He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law” (Nehemiah 8:1,3 NIV).

As we step into a new year, a new presidency, and a new phase of this pandemic, we need God’s word more than ever before. The book of Psalms says, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105 NLT). As we venture into new territory, it’d be wise to not journey in the dark.

Fresh Tears

The book of Nehemiah goes on to say, “All the people wept as they heard the words of the Law” (Nehemiah 8:9b ESV). Simply hearing the word of God is not enough. The hearts of the Israelites were clearly moved by the message Ezra read to them. When was the last time you wept while reading the Bible? When was the last time the living Word challenged you to change the way you live your life? When was the last time Holy Scripture pierced you to your very core?

Conclusion

As the Israelites wept, Nehemiah encouraged them with the words, “‘Go and celebrate with a feast of rich 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!’…So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them’” (Nehemiah 8:10,12 NLT).

As we prepare to fill our bellies with delicious grub, we must approach the dinner table aright. Let’s weep over the ashes of our nation decimated by disease. Let’s acknowledge how far we’ve fallen short of God’s holy standard.  But let’s also find joy in the strength of our LORD and rejoice mightily before Him.

“Many are they who say of me, ‘There is no help for him in God.’ But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.”

(Psalm 3:2-3 NKJV)