Heard the song, “And I choose joy. Let it move you, let it move you, let it move you. Yeah, I choose joy. Let it move you, let it move, let it move you.“. I watched a video recently of a tribe in a remote country that received their first copy of a written Bible. The entire tribal community showed up to the small passenger plane as the Bible arrived. The tribe was dancing and praying and laughing and singing. The leader of this tribe held the written word in his hands and praised God for answering His prayer and receiving the Bible in his language, in his lifetime. It was beautiful, moving and powerful.
The word of God is alive and active.
- It encourages us in times of trial.
- It guides us in times of distress.
- It sustains us during times of persecution.
- It tells of the plan God has had for humanity since the beginning of time.
Even Jesus personally mentions you in scripture: I have other sheep that are not of this pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. John 10:16 NIV
This verse is specifically talking about you and me and everyone who would be part of His flock one day. The tribe danced and sang and cried and prayed because finally, they could hear from their Lord and Savior in their language.
With this in mind I want to ask, why are the Bibles we own dusty? Why is the Bible app using less than Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat etc? Why do we take the written and spoken word for granted in this modern-day world?
The answer is simple. We have never been without it. It’s not that it isn’t important to us, it is because we have never been without a Bible at our fingertips whether physically or electronically. The Bible has become like a light fixture in our homes. We can turn it on when we need it and turn it off when we don’t. However, seeing the joy of this tribe challenged me immensely because I oftentimes do not approach scripture with such undying joy, as if the very words I held in my hands were a sacred treasure.
We go to church on Sundays, we sing, we pray, we read devotionals…but are we happy to be in the presence of the Lord? Are we excited to proclaim what He has done in our lives? Are we boldly rejoicing in His salvation, His might and power? Or are we being brought to tears by His word and the promises that He has given us?
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Acts 3:6-10 NIV
The lame man in this passage represents all of us. We were all broken and lame and in need of a Savior. Peter spoke healing over him and told Him in the name of Jesus get up and walk. We also experience that same healing because when we are praying to Jesus and calling on His name that very first time- we were saved, our sin removed, the burden lifted, the broken restored, similar to this man being able to walk for the first time.
I want us to notice what this man does…. He gets up free from his ailment and can walk for the first time in 40 years. He jumped and leaped and praised the Lord and when all the people around him saw this they were filled with wonder and amazement and many came to faith. If we walked around with this level of joy and praise being obvious in our actions, how many people would see and be amazed by what God has done in our lives?
One major reason the people find it amazing is that they knew what his struggle had been. They knew that He was lame for years and they saw the miraculous healing in his life. The transformation was apparent. We also need to be bold with our ailments and transformation. When we share with someone else, we can boldy praise God and say I am forgiven, I am free, I will still struggle and sin but by the blood of Jesus I have been made to walk and He is transforming me to be more like Him everyday. In Him alone do I live and move and have my being.
You shall go out with Joy and be lead forth with praise so let us go out rejoicing together. This is not just good news. This is the only news that matters in a world of terrible media coverage. And friends, like the man holding the Bible in His hands for the first time, or the man able to walk for the first time, we have truly received the greatest treasure in the free gift of Salvation from Jesus Christ our Lord and King.
The Lord Bless you and Keep you,
Kara
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