A thought...

Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God, interpreting it so all could understand what was read...."Today is holy to the Lord your God. Do not be sad and do not weep"-- For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. He said further "Go eat rich foods and and sweet drinks and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared; For today is holy to our LORD do not be saddened by this day, for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength! "

-Nehemiah 8

There are two parts of this passage that I find intriguing. First of all, I am struck with the reaction of the Israelites. It made me wonder about my own faith and reaction to mistakes I make. Do I ever weep when hearing God's law? Do I truly repent when I do not follow His way, completely, wholeheartedly, lovingly? It seems like, in today's world, that it would just be simpler to not be bothered by God's law. We don't have to rely on God for anything anymore...right? Or if we do rely on God's law it would be easy to think that we are bargaining or perhaps building a big mansion in heaven with every good deed that we do. But it doesn't work like that. No, instead God loves us in a unconditional way. In a way that the prophet Ezra expressed to the Israelites and told them that EVEN THOUGH they forgot God's law, even though they had sinned, even though they had not been perfect, they were to rejoice because the Lord rejoiced in this day and in essence in them. So really it is not God who needs us to follow His rules but instead it is us that need to follow His. What a humbling thought.