I was reading in Nehemiah the other day a part of the narrative where the people turn back to God. This is a common biblical narrative, and a common reality for our lives. That we tend to wander, and then God brings us back. So instructions are given for how to turn away from their idol worship and turn back to God. As the law (earliest parts of the Old Testament instructions) was being read out for the first time in generations the people were sad. They were sad that they didn’t know how to follow God, and sad about how they had turned from God and followed their own way. Then Nehemiah, one of their leaders, says this…
Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT)
10 And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”
It’s always a time to celebrate when people turn back to God. There was what the New Testament calls godly sorrow for their sin, followers of Jesus are free – not dejected and sad. That day was sacred because God had already freed them and welcomed them back, and the same is true for us. We likely won’t have a feast every time we come back to God, but the joy of the Lord can be our strength – what does that mean?
Joy is a result of (fruit) following Jesus by walking in the Spirit (Gal. 5). As we listen to the Spirit and choose to obey, joy grows. It’s not something we can make happen – God does it in us when we live obediently. Joy is a strength to a follower of Jesus because even when things are genuinely bad, we can have joy. This sounds like foolishness to someone who doesn’t have joy from the Lord – this fruit of the Spirit in their life. But it makes complete sense to someone who is experiencing what Jesus calls abundant life – as we follow Him.
So as with the people who were listening to Nehemiah, so it is with us. We experience the joy of the Lord when we trust Him, listen to Him, and obey Him. He will bring joy to our hearts, and that’s a reason to party. God invites you to test Him in this, to see that He is good. Listen to God today, do what He says, see if you’re heart is changed by joy! Then have a party, even if it’s just in your car with the music cranked.