A
Revived and Dedicated People
Scripture
text: Nehemiah
12: 27 – 47
Godliness
Precedes Joy
As
I walk through shopping centers during the festive season, I am
always greeted by Christmas carols, putting me in the Christmas
mood. One of my favorites is ‘Joy to the world, the Lord is
come’. When I hear this song and look at the troubles and
circumstances around me, I wonder if it is possible to have joy
and peace in my heart.
In
Nehemiah 12, the people went through difficult times and yet they
were able to rejoice in the Lord, so much so that their rejoicing
was heard miles away.
How
was this possible? What was their secret? It lies in the 3 ‘G’s:
1) Godliness
2) Gratitude
3) God
In
Neh12:30, Nehemiah called for the priests and Levites to purify
themselves. They in turn also purified the people, place and the
walls. If we want the joy of the Lord, we have to be pure –
because godliness precedes joy.
Joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness pleases and gratifies
our desires for the now. Whereas joy appreciates the past, present
and the future, not because the circumstances are pleasing but
because the heart is right with God.
The
Bible says that true joy equals godliness; God’s word says
if we want to be really joyful, we need to be holy. So before the
people celebrated, they were purified.
We
should ask ourselves – Am I experiencing the joy in my heart
at the moment? Is my heart right with the Lord?
True
joy flows from a heart of gratitude
Not
long before, the people were lamenting on the sorrowful state of
affairs in the land. They could not sing because they lost their
joy of salvation. Now we see them praising God in exuberance.
Why?
The key is thankfulness.
The people were thankful for many things, like the godly leadership
of Nehemiah, God’s protection, wisdom, and provision, unity
among them, God’s strength and the will to work that enabled
the project to be completed.
Are
we grateful for what God has done for us recently and have given
thanks to Him? Do we count our blessings daily?
True
joy has to do with your focus – i.e. God
True
joy is not dependent on our outward circumstances, but is dependent
on our inward focus – what we are focusing on. It is not our
position in life that makes us joyful; it is our disposition of
heart that makes us joyful.
Do we focus daily on God, or do our troubles and circumstances overwhelm
us so that we are drowned by it?
Prayer
Response
Lord,
teach me to be a thankful person in this thankless world. Many a
times, I am blind to the small but many treasures You have put along
the way. Help me to be sensitive so that I can recognise them and
rejoice in your name. Teach me also to rejoice in good times and
bad, for it is in challenging times that we see and understand your
grace and power. Above, teach me to focus on You in all things that
I do. Amen.
~
Devotional write-up based on Rev Vincent Goh's message