Rejoice & Be Merry!

SCRIPTURE

Jeremiah 31:7-14 (NRSV)
Joy as God's scattered flock gathers

For thus says the Lord:
Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,
and raise shouts for the chief of the nations;
proclaim, give praise, and say,
"Save, O Lord, your people,
the remnant of Israel."
See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north,
and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,
among them the blind and the lame,
those with child and those in labor, together;
a great company, they shall return here.
With weeping they shall come,
and with consolations I will lead them back,
I will let them walk by brooks of water,
in a straight path in which they shall not stumble;
for I have become a father to Israel,
and Ephraim is my firstborn.

Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
and declare it in the coastlands far away;
say, "He who scattered Israel will gather him,
and will keep him as a shepherd a flock."
For the Lord has ransomed Jacob,
and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.
They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,
and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord,
over the grain, the wine, and the oil,
and over the young of the flock and the herd;
their life shall become like a watered garden,
and they shall never languish again.
Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,
and the young men and the old shall be merry.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.
I will give the priests their fill of fatness,
and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty,
says the Lord.


DEVOTION

Lately I have been thinking a lot about the fact that God is constantly redeeming us in ways known and unknown to us. I recently read a quote in an adoption book which said, “Adoption is not only voluntary; it is also redemptive. “Redeem” means to release, to make up for, to restore. An adoptive family’s guiding light is the vision to restore to an abused or neglected child the dignity of life that was ripped from him. It is a dignity that child was born to enjoy (Schooler, The Whole Life Adoption Book).”

This quote profoundly moved me, not only because my family hopes to be enlarged through adoption this year, but also because it reminded me so vividly of what God has done for me over and over again.

In just ten seconds I can think of at least three ways God has redeemed my situation and/or my life and I’m sure you can too!

Some of us experienced bitter family struggles as children, only to have God place us in stable and loving families of our own as adults. Others of us were told that we wouldn’t amount to anything, only to graduate from college and graduate school and make a name for ourselves in our chosen professions. Still others have lost all financially, only to have God restore home, car, job, and bank account in a miraculous fashion!

These are all instances of God’s ability to redeem, make up for, or restore our fortunes and today’s Bible passage reminds us that God has been in the “restoration business” for a very long time!

I love Jeremiah 31:13-14 which says, “Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. I will give the priests their fill of fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty, says the Lord.”

Isn’t this good news?!

It reminds me of the way that the early disciples must have felt when Jesus died on the cross, but then rose again on the third day with all power over sin, death, and the grave in his hands.

It reminds me of how we should feel when we meditate on the fact that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, redeemed all of our sinful lives by allowing Love to abandon him to the cross where he died to make atonement for our sin and to gift us with eternal life.

Like the parent who adopts a hurt child, God adopted us, making us sons and daughters and co-heirs with Christ by restoring that which was ripped away from us by sin and returning to us the dignity of life we were created to enjoy!

HALLELUJAH!!

This is the ultimate act of redemption, was it not? As we mediate on this good news Word for today, let us rejoice and be merry!

On this day, if you have never thanked Jesus for redeeming your life, I invite you to do so today.


Let us pray:

Holy God, thank you for Jesus. Thank you for allowing him to die on the cross to forgive my sin and gift me with eternal life. Thank you that he redeemed my very life, dying in my place. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit. I believe with all my heart that Jesus died and rose again on the third day and I can’t wait to share this good news with everyone I meet! I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.



SPECIAL NOTE

If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! Let me encourage you to tell a Christian friend that you just put all of your hope in Jesus. Ask him or her to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand and to find a good Bible believing church where you can be baptized and make new friends who will walk with you on your Christian journey!

I would be honored if you would let me know about your decision today by clicking "YES" in the poll located in the upper-right hand corner of the good news blog in answer to the question, "Did God save you today?"

Congratulations and Happy Re-birthday! Your salvation is our GOOD NEWS, please go and share the GOOD NEWS with others!