Marilyn and I had the joy recently of celebrating our dear friends very special anniversary. Together with their large family and closest friends it was wonderful to honour their amazing marriage and loving, hospitable hearts. It was a time of delicious food, cards and gifts; family and friends enjoying laughter, fun, poignant speeches, group photos and being together. A special joy was that whether very young, old or in between, everyone felt special, a vital part of this happy time.
I was reminded of how our Father God loves celebration. The Old Testament is full of the festivals he set up for the Israelites to remember his amazing works on their behalf. Such festivals would involve thousands of people feasting, dancing and enjoying precious times of worship. Weddings were full of joy and ritual, lasting for days as did victory celebrations when their enemies had been overturned.
Jesus loved celebration too, famously turning the water into wine at the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-12) and sharing many parables involving feasts, banquets and looking ahead to rapturous celebrations to come in heaven.
All this speaks to me of God's love of rejoicing over us and honouring us as his beloved family. We are made in his image so it is impossible for us to enjoy beautiful things that do not originate in God’s own heart. If we wanted to celebrate over our friends on their special anniversary, how much more did that desire spring from God?
It’s a life changing revelation to think that the One I worship and live my life for, so loves to party and celebrate. God prophecies through Zephaniah that he ‘rejoices over (us) with singing.’ (Zephaniah 3:17) We all love worshipping and singing our favourite hymns and choruses, but do we ask him to open our ears that we might hear his song of love over us? That would indeed be mind blowing.
Father God rejoiced in honouring Jesus by declaring that he was his beloved Son with whom he was well pleased. (Mathew 3:17) It’s important we realise that he wants to declare his love over us too as he has willingly made us his own children, brothers and sisters together with Jesus.
Our friends were delighted to be surrounded by their loved ones and to know that their special anniversary mattered to all. I thought of our broken communities with many living alone and feeling invisible and was challenged to let God’s heart of celebration become my own way of life. Will I have the heart to rejoice with those who rejoice and honour the gold in everyone? Jesus told us that we are the ‘light of the world’ and I wonder if choosing to celebrate and rejoice in those around us, is key. A way of us shining his beautiful light in to our dark world?
