“Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help…The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart LEAPS FOR JOY, and with my song I praise Him.” (Psa. 28:2, 7) Remember AMY, how the lame man felt after he was healed by Peter and John, in the name of Jesus? The Bible says, “He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, WALKING AND JUMPING, AND PRAISING GOD.” (Acts 3:8)
What about David when he brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem? “David was dancing before the LORD with ALL HIS MIGHT…” (2 Sam. 6:14) I’ll bet he got up and leaped for joy. How often do we get excited thinking about the great Salvation the Lord has wrought for us? “Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was WOUNDED for our transgressions, He was BRUISED for our iniquities; The chastisement for OUR PEACE was upon Him, And by HIS STRIPES we are healed.” (Isa. 53:4-5) It was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!
Does our heart still LEAP FOR JOY AMY, each time we think of all the extreme suffering that Jesus went through FOR US? Have we grown to be too proper that we fail to get excited about God? Why do we get all excited about a sports event but sit in church like it is the most boring, ho-hum thing we have ever done? Why will we shell out big bucks for a day at the ballpark but get stingy putting money in the offering plate at church? Why are we willing to sit through a four hour ball game but act like one hour is more than enough to worship God?
It might be that the only thing AMY, we need to have a great worship experience is to anticipate that it will be a great worship experience. The next time you go to church, go with that attitude. Start the wave. Stand up and cheer. Let everyone know you are EXCITED ABOUT BEING THERE. You might be surprised at the ways the Holy Spirit can work with people who are willing to let the joy of the Lord into their lives.
DO NOT SORROW, FOR THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH…(Neh. 8:10)
-Bill Stockham