Theme: Let’s Celebrate!
Occasion: Christmas
Audience: LG members (being shared by leaders)
Title: Does God celebrate?
How does God celebrate? What and when does God celebrate? Does our Father celebrate the way we do?
How do we celebrate? Take a moment to ponder. Amongst the many activities that Christians spend time on preparing to celebrate Christmas, which of those activities really count as celebration?
We plan to get together with friends and families, plan for good food, songs & carols, presents & gifts, make arrangements to attend a service in church, give to the less fortunate; the list goes on. Oh, surely we understand that it goes beyond all this. Christmas is a time to remember the birth of Christ.
However, is mere remembering really celebrating? After all, the word “celebrate” in the Bible was often used in the context of observing the Passover. Does celebrating mean having a good time or is it more of an observation of an occasion, or both?
So does God celebrate occasions? I’m inclined to think not, because God exists outside of time and space. His nature, as revealed to us does not seem to suggest that God observes our calendars and occasions. Eternity as an attribute of God is revealed in a number of scriptures, e.g. Psalm 90:2 (“Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.”) Another translation gives us a fuller understanding, “… from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”
However there are instances that cannot be found in any calendar or schedule, that we can take note of, in which God will certainly celebrate over. And because these instances delight God, it will do us good to follow along in celebrating with Him.
One fact is certain that is stated in His Word, is that God celebrates repentance. In Matthew 18:13, Jesus reveals that God the Father rejoices, not over 99 that were already safe and secure, but that He rejoices for that single soul who has been found.
In Luke 10:20, Jesus counsels His disciples to rejoice not “because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.” Whenever a brother or sister turns from sin and chooses Christ, God celebrates.
Another revelation that we should take heed off, is that God celebrates every instance of obedience.
1 Samuel 15:22, says, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” Samuel affirms to us that mere observation is not a reason for God to celebrate, obedience is.
As to whether God throws a party like man is so accustomed to, we don’t know for sure how the celebration is until we experience it first-hand when we reunite with God in spirit. We associate celebration with gifts, music, food, all that befits the occasion. Yet God celebrates with neither because all these are man-made and temporal.
But we do know that when God celebrated creation, He gave us all a gift in the form of a seventh day that He blessed and sanctified, instituting it as a day of rest. And when God gave us the Greatest Gift in the form of His only Son, he celebrated redemption.
How then should we celebrate? If God celebrates repentance and obedience, we ought to support and promote instances of our fellow man who repent and obey God’s Word. We ought to encourage the ongoing redemptive work of Christ in each others’ lives.
Let us not follow after the example of the brother of the prodigal son, who, because of pride and jealousy, could not bring himself to rejoice with the father. Let us rejoice with God whenever a brother or sister returns to us.
As a father, I am inclined to celebrate whenever my children accomplish something. I want others to share the joy of my childrens’ achievements. I believe the same goes for God our Father, who celebrates His childrens’ spiritual achievements.
Let’s celebrate, think back and thank God of definite occasions when you experienced spiritual growth, when you expected and received, when you exercised faith.
Let’s celebrate, encourage your children when they obey God’s Word, involve your spouse in your spiritual journey, examine ways as a family to share what they’ve learnt through SCG and Bible study.
Let’s celebrate, share your salvation testimony with the life group, lend support by attending your LG or family member’s water baptism, reaffirm a new believer’s decision by visiting them, become a prayer partner with a fellow believer’s commitment to turn from addiction, tell a friend who is facing challenges that God delights in integrity.
As we celebrate Christmas this year, let’s participate with God in His celebration; His celebration of our salvation and transformation. Instead of God being the guest, let God be the Host. As we gather together, let’s recognize that we are the ones who are invited to God’s party.
(Bible quotes taken from New Living Translation)
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