"CELEBRATE with Great Joy"

“Celebrate with Great Joy”  is the 2012 NTNL Mission Assembly Key Scripture Verse

“Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.”

                                                                       - Nehemiah 8:12 (NIV)

This portion of scripture comes after Ezra has gathered the people and read to them from the Book of the Law, reminding them of all the great history of God’s commands and care for them as God’s chosen people.  Despite much opposition, defying great odds, Nehemiah has succeeded in re-building the walls of Jerusalem, and the exiles have returned.  Governor Nehemiah and Ezra the scribe and priest call the people together for a day of confession and remembrance and renewing of the covenant. From “daybreak till noon”  (8:3) Ezra read the Word of God to the people  “making it clear, and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.” (8:8)  and the effect was so powerful upon the people’s hearts that “all the people had been weeping as they were listening.” (8:9)

With our Assembly key focus on global mission and the work of the DiscipeLife Alive! initiative for mission this verse serves to remind us of  our place in God’s great plan for God’s people in all time and places, a plan continually unfolding in our midst. Obviously it calls for celebrating, but it also is embedded in the story of God’s people re-building, the people of God coming back together after a time of trial, and dislocation to remember and renew their commitment to be the people of God.

          Celebrating the call by God’s Word to live lives of holiness and example –   
                     Celebrating  DiscipleLife!