Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the LORD your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!” And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, “Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.” So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them. On October 9 the family leaders of all the people, together with the priests and Levites, met with Ezra the scribe to go over the Law in greater detail. As they studied the Law, they discovered that the LORD had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should live in shelters during the festival to be held that month.
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3 Days
Celebration is not something we only do when we’re happy. Celebration is a posture to life—especially since we have a hope we can always celebrate with the Gospel. Christians should be the ones who celebrate the most. In this three-day Bible Plan, you'll learn the four things to celebrate in daily life so you can have more joy every day.
Life is hard, but God is good. The ability to choose each day to love God, give thanks, and feel the joy in our hearts is available to us. But it does require a little practice. Embrace this 3-day plan to cultivate a truly happy heart through joy in Jesus!
4 Days
How do you study the Bible? How do you apply the Word of God to your life? How do you inspire others to do the same? Over the next four days, we will take a look at Ezra the scribe whose dedication to study, obey, and teach the Revelation of God ignited revival in Jerusalem.
5 Days
Manhattan pastor Jon Tyson says, “All great revivals have taken place in times of decline. Resurrection is found among the dead. I want to call you to resist compromise when your friends tell you your faith is too intense, your devotion unnecessary, your life together too much.” In this devotional Tyson contrasts five things that make for brokenness with five things that make for beauty.
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