Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.

Nehemiah 8:12, NIV 

 

One of the most beautiful events after the return from exile was the scene that is described in the passage above. The people had been called to assembly and the priests opened the Word of God and read from it. No telling how many years it had been since some of these people had heard the word of God read aloud, and the reading became a cause for celebration.

 

Have you ever thought of the privilege that we have in our modern day and age? We have the word of God available at our fingertips! We don't need a priest to bring the book to us and explain it to us, for we have our own copies in our own language. We have Bible on our computers and smart phones. We can listen to it on our stereos and ipods. We likely have a half a dozen written copies of the Bible in multiple versions just lying around our homes and offices.

 

But, do we see the privilege?

 

Do we celebrate at its reading?

 

Does it bring us great joy?

 

If not, then we need to reevaluate our relationship with God and His word, because it is the only source of his revealed will. I know a lot of people are impressed with this religious leader or that, with this man or woman who claims that God speaks directly to them, or with the particular "brand" of religion that we grew up with, but none of these will do. The only source of God's revealed, inspired word is the Bible. Read it, understand it, and obey it, and you will have great joy. Fail to do those things, and you might as well resign yourself to a sub-par life and an unpleasant eternity.

 

Aren't you glad that you are reading God's word? It will change your life and it is guaranteed to bring you great joy!

 

Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.

Psalms 119:111, NIV

 

Today is the second day of the 30 day challenge to read through the books of wisdom and the return from exile. May God richly bless your efforts and shower your life with the great joy that can only come from reading, understanding, and obeying His holy word!