History Books in 90 Days: Joshua 6-8
Making the EFFORT
Psalm 145:7; They will celebrate Your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
Celebration is an important part of Jewish culture. God instructed the Israelites in a number of
feasts and festivals to be celebrated each year. The people were commanded to REMEMBER the
great things God had done, and to ensure that this would happen, He instructed them in yearly
celebrations. At these festivals, the people would offer thankful sacrifices to the Lord for all He had
done, and they would celebrate with feasts.
We are to celebrate God’s abundant goodness, and to sing for joy of His righteousness. Every good
and perfect gift comes from the Father above – everything good that you have and have experienced
was a gift from the Father who loves you! We get so caught up in our disappointments and struggles
that we neglect to thank the Lord for the good He has done; in fact, we forget about the good He has
done! We need to habitually stop and remember the great things He has done to remind us that He
is still doing great things.
Celebration should be part of our relationships. It is no small matter when a friend or family member
commits, or recommits, their life to Christ. The prodigal’s father killed the fattened calf and called for
a celebration when his wayward son returned; should we not celebrate such events too? Or what
about life’s smaller successes? A new job, hard work paid off, a valiant effort, a game well played
– shouldn’t we build each other up by celebrating? Shouldn’t we come together and give heartfelt
thanks to the Lord for what He has accomplished through the person? Imagine how encouraged our
friends and family would be if we were quick to congratulate them and celebrate with them in their
victories.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Spend some time recalling great things God has done for you. Ask Him to jog your memory to
those you have forgotten. Give Him thanks and worship for being so good to you.
2. Does anything keep you from taking joy in the success of others? If so, ask Jesus to reveal why
this is. Pray that He’d help you change.
3. Who’s someone you can celebrate with this week? How’ll you do it?
