“After you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days;” (Leviticus 23:39)
Last month, I focused my article on the importance of celebrating the milestone of the 200th Anniversary of Ethelsville Baptist Church, but we need to celebrate any milestones that our churches experience during the year. Many times, we overlook not only our churches’ anniversaries, but we don’t celebrate our new buildings or structures, baptisms, new members, the return of older members, new Sunday School or Discipleship classes, or anything that has occurred differently during the year.
The scriptural passage that I’ve quoted speaks of the celebration of the “Feast of Tabernacles” where the people of Israel live in temporary shelters for 7 days to remind them of the ones that He provided for the nation as they left out of Egypt and went to the Promised Land. There are at least 7 known feasts that the people of Israel celebrated annually. Do we take the time to celebrate what the Lord has done for our churches even once a year? I believe that’s the point I’m trying to make.
The Lord has blessed us in so many ways as His people and His church. However, we seem to be oblivious, non-caring, or entitled to what we have. This should not be. As God’s children, we must understand that God through His mercy, love, and grace has blessed us. He didn’t have to redeem us, nor bless us, but He does because of His great love for us. John says it best, “We love because He first loved us.” (I John 4:19)
As we move in to the harvest or fall season, let us be grateful for the salvation, the blessings, the churches, the families, and even life itself. Let us not take anything for granted. Why? Because God, our Father, has given it to us for His glory!
Until Next Month,
Bro. Lyle