As we celebrate our nations’ independence, what is your favorite celebration memory? Is it a memory of spending time with family? Is it a special fireworks display? Is it spending time in a foreign country and being with your tight-knit military unit? Will this one be special?
There are tons of celebrations across our country every July 4th. Each of them is special to someone for one reason or another. Yet, each of us have a favorite, even if we have several special memories. Many of us can recall what happened each year going many years back.
Soooo….how does our celebration of the King compare to our celebrations of our country? I’m guessing we don’t have nearly as many special memories of celebrating Jesus as we do of celebrating our country. Isn’t that sad? Shouldn’t we celebrate Him? We may think we are to celebrate Him every day, and we would be correct. Yet, celebrating Him every day can lead us into a ho-hum attitude toward Him.
Christmas has come to be more about presents than the birth of Christ. Easter has gotten to be more about pretty dresses and egg hunting than about the rising of Jesus from the grave. Our celebration is relegated to a worship service and the performance of the pastor or choir. The average churchgoer doesn’t really get involved. There is little celebration with joy, lifting of hands, singing at the top of our lungs, or dancing.
The Israelites praised God and celebrated him differently. There was loud music, dancing in the streets, and singing at the top of their lungs. They wanted anyone anywhere near to know they were celebrating their God. We could learn from their exuberance. We could be a lot more celebratory. We, too, could celebrate Jesus with a lot more joy exhibited, rather than trying to hold it all inside.
I pray we all learn to celebrate God more. I pray we are thankful every day. I pray each one of us will be show our joy by singing loudly, raising our hands in praise, and dancing if we want. Sing praises to God. Celebrate Jesus. Lift your hands in praise. Dance with Jesus. Be exuberant.
Psalm 48:1-2
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation,
is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
the city of the great King.
Marty Pressey 