Celebrate Jesus...with JOY!

Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  There’s enough for your personal servings, as well as plenty to share! 

                Have you noticed how easy it is to be self-centered?  When we focus on ourselves rather than on God & others, we lose much joy.   Most of us think we know what’s best….but do we, really?   In Matthew 22, Jesus taught us about the greatest commandments:  

  ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 

                Our focus this week is on “strength found in relationship with the Lord”. Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength.  But it doesn’t stop there.  We are to celebrate Christ.  Celebrate our relationship with Him. Celebrate what He’s done for us! Celebrate the opportunities to serve and give in His name.  That’s the opposite of the “self-centered” nature that comes so naturally.

                In the passage found in Nehemiah 8, Ezra and Nehemiah connected celebration with giving.     “Often when we celebrate and give to others, we are strengthened spiritually and filled with joy.  So let’s look for ways to celebrate and honor God… and allow Him to fill us with His JOY!” (Life Appl. Bible footnote)

               Let’s celebrate Jesus with abundant JOY!