Today there is a celebration happening in India, in the home of my friend.  There is a celebration occurring in the home of Dave’s fishing buddy, and there is also a celebration happening in the home of our daughter and son-in-law’s. The celebrations happening are birthdays!  To any who might read this and are celebrating a birthday – “Happy Birthday to you!”

Regardless of alterations, due to Covid19 restrictions, celebrations continue, and so they should.  Birthdays are celebrated because the day someone came into the world, given the breath of life, is a great occasion and a tremendous gift. 

I believe that somewhere in our DNA is the longing to celebrate and so we find reasons to do this and should find reasons to do this, even in the simplest of forms and with the simplest of means. Celebrations bring joy and can be a beautiful distraction from the cares and concerns carried in life, as we focus our attention on what is good and lovely.

Throughout the scriptures we read of God ordained celebrations for his people. Designed by God himself, I believe he knew the need we have to celebrate. Celebrations were commonly named festivals. I love how God’s people were told, “Be joyful at your festival” (Deuteronomy 16:14).  The people invited to be joyful were “you, your son, your daughter, your servant, your maid, the Levite who lives in your neighborhood, the foreigner, the orphan and widow among you.”  No-one was left out of the celebration. In reading the list of the attendees we know that not all on the list would have felt like celebrating. Yet, they were all told, “Be joyful at your festival.”  Joy at the festival came not from the circumstance around but the truth known being celebrated.  I believe the truth known and celebrated can be summed up in the words of Psalm 2:11. There we read, “celebrate the Lord’s rule.” Celebrate the truth that the Lord, Jesus Christ, rules with grace and mercy over all things. As our Saviour, and Friend, he is not aloof and disconnected from our lives and our world.  He rules over all things.  He himself said, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18).

Theologian J.I. Packer said, “Whatever catches your eye in the Bible do not let it distract you from Him.”  I could get distracted by “be joyful at your celebration” but that is not the focal point.  The focal point is “celebrate to the Lord” (10) and “rejoice before the Lord” (11).  I expand Packer’s thought and remind us that ‘’Whatever invites your celebration in the world do not let it distract you from Him.”  The Lord is the one we must continue to celebrate.  He is the one who reigns, the sovereign one, the one who is with us and for us. Today, as birthdays or other moments are celebrated, we must keep the Lord at the forefront of our celebrations and acknowledge him. He is the one who gives breath and life.  He is the one who affirms our living and celebrates our lives.  He is the one who does not forget to wish a happy birthday and delights in every single life seen and known by him.  

Today I celebrate.  It’s our granddaughter’s birthday!  But as I celebrate her beautiful little life there is a greater celebration occurring in my heart.  It is echoed through these words.  I invite you to sing/say them with me!

357: Come On And Celebrate

Come on and celebrate
His gift of love, we will celebrate
The Son of God who loved us
And gave us life.
We'll shout Your praise, O King,
You give us joy nothing else can bring,
We'll give to You our offering
In celebration praise.

Come on and celebrate,
Celebrate,
Celebrate and sing,
Celebrate and sing to the King.
Come on and celebrate,
Celebrate,
Celebrate and sing,
Celebrate and sing to the King.

God of celebration, thank you that you have given us the ability to celebrate. Forgive us for neglecting to bring your praise into our parties and into our festivals.  Give us words to articulate celebration of you as we celebrate various days and seasons on our calendar.  Apart from you our celebrations experience a hollowness. All good gifts find their origin in you, our Creator and Sustainer.  We celebrate your rule today.  AMEN