The Command to Celebrate

God is into celebration. In fact, he commands it. See why as you Keep Reading...

READ
Exodus 23:14 - Three times a year you shall celebrate a feast to Me.

REFLECT
We all like a good party. Friends are mingling, food is flowing, life is good. We can live for these moments of celebration when we’re free from the cares of work and family… at least momentarily free.

Typically, we don’t associate party times with God times. After all, doesn’t God have serious business to attend to? Why would he have time for celebration? Perhaps our view of God's character is short-sighted.

In the midst of God's detailed commands to the Israelites regarding worship and administering justice comes God's command to celebrate. Yes, he commands his people to celebrate… to celebrate with a feast TO HIM. Why?

Perhaps God knows that we quickly forget the true source of our freedom (not the weekend, by the way). Perhaps God knows that we would work ourselves into the ground if left to our own devices. So God instructs us to celebrate… celebrate Him!

True celebration is God-directed. Oh yes, we can have a good time with our parties and food. But, if God is not at the center, we’ve missed something. We’ve missed true joy and true life. Only those who worship God alone (no idolatry) can truly party, have the most fun and experience abundance in life. In fact, that’s why Jesus came… that we would know abundant living. John 10:10

Let remembrance and thanksgiving to God be at the center of your celebration. He wanted the Israelites to remember all that he did. And he wants us to remember his goodness. He wants us to celebrate him.

RESPOND
It’s time to celebrate. Take some time to write down specific moments of God's goodness to you… a time of healing, provision, revelation, salvation…. Then get active in your celebration. How would you celebrate if your favorite team won the championship? Now why would you hold back from God any of that energy? Give a whoop, a holler, a joyous shout. He deserves all the celebration we could give him… and more.