Celebration

I read Deuteronomy 16 this morning. It is interesting that part of God's Commands and Laws was for His people to pause from the busy and routine lifestyle in order to celebrate, worship and enjoy the blessings that God has poured into their lives. He actually commands them to rejoice. Believe it or not, the Scripture says, "Be joyful at your Feast" (verse 14) and this is to be done with their family members and with the "fatherless, widows, aliens (migrant workers) and Levites". One of the sad things about our modern life is that we have hardly little time to pause and celebrate. (do you know that there were times when it was mandatory for them to take a week off in order to worship & rest?) Even on a Sunday, our day of worship, there is a tendency to fill it up with meetings and ministries. And our Public Holidays are filled with programmes. Not that all these things are bad or sinful, but I think we miss out in actually enjoying what God has given to us. I am thinking today, how can we implement these commands in our present day, both as an individual and a community? How can we as a Church, a community of faith synchronize our schedules so that we can enjoy what God has given to us. I think part of the problem is that our calendars are so different. This is why God had to lay down His calendar for His people - "observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover of the Lord your God..." May be as a church we need to synchronize our calendar in the beginning of the year so that we can have time to celebrate and enjoy God's blessings in His Presence.

Consecration

I am beginning to see that one needs to be "consecrated" if one desires to be used greatly by the Lord. This thought once again came to mind as i read 'A biography of John Sung' by Leslie T. Lyall. Unless, the whole of our being, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit is set aside for the Lord, how can we expect God to use us?

"In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work."

2 Timothy 2: 20 - 21