Devotion
Do as the Lord commands: feast!
David Jacobs

Everyone likes to celebrate from time to time: birthdays, vacations, holidays. We all need a chance to relax and enjoy God's gifts. Consider this, however: when was the last time you truly celebrated God? It happens too few and far between. "Twice a year Christians" celebrate on Christmas and Easter, forgetting the 363 other days of the year. Although some of the Old Testament may seem prohibitive and gloomy, these verses in Nehemiah are a stark contrast.

Nehemiah makes a proclamation that all people would love to hear: "Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared" (Nehemiah 8:10). Eat, drink, and be merry! Last but not least, give to those that do not have the means to celebrate. There are certainly many people that give back on the biggest Christian holidays in modern times, but our consumer culture has changed the meaning of Christmas. If the Jews living in the time of Nehemiah can learn to celebrate their love of God and share with the less fortunate during a turbulent and difficult time, certainly can we!

Prayer

When have you recently given back to society? It may sound like a Christmas cliché, but it truly is "better to give than to receive."