Twin Peaks

November 11

Happy Sunday Everyone,

The scripture for today is Nehemiah 8:10

Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

In the verses preceding verse 10 we find the people of God gathered on the first day of the seventh month, which was the Feast of Trumpets. It was a holy day of celebration. They stood and listened for hours as Ezra and the Levities read and taught the Word of God. The people wept as they heard the Word of God. But Nehemiah told them that the day was holy, not a day of mourning. He ended the instructions in verse 10 with the wonderful proclamation "the joy of the Lord is your strength."

The enemy has a counterfeit for most things that pertain to God, but he has no counterfeit for the "joy of the LORD." It is a clear identifier of the presence of God in a life. It is not our joy; it is the joy of the LORD. He imparts it to us when we, as the people in Nehemiah's day did, spend time in His presence receiving and being changed by His Word. As we receive the word of God it brings us near to Him. It is the nearness to God that causes the life changing experience of His joy.  "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."  Psalms 16:11

God has a special place reserved just for us. He never locks His door and is never too busy to welcome us and take personal time with each of us. He is an infinite God and everyone in the world can fit into His presence and there would be still an infinite amount of room remaining. The invitation is given to everyone to come because the place of reception has already been prepared; no one needs to be left out. There is no sorrow in His presence "for the joy of the LORD is your strength." Come and be strengthened.

God bless you as you continue in His service.

Tim