How to Really Enjoy God.

How to Really Enjoy God.

Good Morning,

Well here we are in Eastertide, the forty days time between the Resurrection and the Ascension and the ten day countdown to Pentecost. Here we are in the backwash of Holy week hanging out with Jesus and learning How to Enjoy God.

Scripture: Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

John 12:1-3 (NRSV)

When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

John 20:22-23 (NRSV)

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff–they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.

Psalm 23:1-6 (NRSV)

In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:13-14 (NRSV)

O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.

Psalm 34:8 (NRSV)

Message: The thought of enjoying God may seem unusual to some, but Psalm 34:8 clearly encourages us to taste and see that God is good. Then we read in John that the disciples received the Holy Spirit on the evening of Resurrection Day. That is enjoyable. But wait, there is more. The Holy Spirit was not manifested through them until seven weeks later at Pentecost. There is a process that occurs between the planting of the seeds and the harvest. Friends, God is on a mission and God has sought you out. But as it was with your choosing Christ, you also have a choice when it comes to serving… There is joy in being a Mary but there is joy in being a Martha too. But be mindful God is not going to make it so easy you can do it on your own. He wants to help. So yes you are free to walk with God enjoying all of His creation but count it a blessing, an honor that you are also free to join God in enjoying a relationship on a more difficult task that might fill the house in more than one way. Know this, you have been freed to serve and bear fruit. And in so many ways it is for those Christians who are trapped the right side of Easter but the wrong side of Pentecost to which this devotional is directed. You see there are some believers that just don’t seem to have any spiritual power. There must be some fire in the Spirit. So discover the joy of Martha as well as the joy of Mary and Lazarus, but don’t stay stuck between Easter and Pentecost. There is more to enjoy if your priorities are in order.

Pray we realize that there can be spiritual and relational poverty that keeps us from enjoying our freedom as well as physical and financial poverty that captures most of our attention. Pray we get our priorities straight. Pray we reduce our stress. Pray we are not dissatisfied in wanting something more and rarely enjoying the moment. Pray we not miss out on the joy of living because we have rejected the great comfort of being content in every situation. Pray we realize that God is in us to be our source of power and love…all we need is provided. Pray we have a love worth finding and of a God worthy of desiring. Pray we learn to enjoy God and help others to discover the power of the Holy Spirit when it comes with Fire.

Blessings,

John Lawson