Today is Rosh Hashanah, the head of the year, on the Hebrew calendar. It is the first of the High Holy Days and the beginning of the ten Days of Awe. In short it is all about repentance and celebrating the goodness of God. Unike, most modern Christian traditions, this time of repentance is marked not by fasting but eating symbolic foods such as yeasty challah, matzo ball soup, pomegranates, fish head, and apples dipped in honey.
Bill Johnson says something like, “I don’t have visions of God when I fast, I have visions of chicken.” I can relate.
Little encouragement to feast exists in our culture rampant with diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity. I have jokingly referenced Psalm 34:8, “Taste and see that the Lord is good” while blessing a decadent meal at a foodie’s paradise type of restaurant.
All joking aside, God does invite us to find pleasure in His blessings and to celebrate His goodness. Luke 5 depicts God’s invitation through the words of Jesus.
The tax collector decided to follow Jesus simply by His invitation and then held a great banquet for Jesus at his house. The Pharisees complained, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus’ answer is priceless. The Pharisees go on to compare Jesus’ disciples to the fasting and praying disciples of John. Again, Jesus’ response is genius, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.” (NIV)
Jesus’ reply speaks to the need for discernment of the times. The retort also speaks of the joy found in the presence of the Savior.
Christian theology void of troubles is not the full gospel; just as any belief system neglecting the truth that you were made for pleasure.
Religion says, “Rid yourself of earthly pleasures.” Relationship with God says, “Bask in the goodness of God and you will not be attracted to earthly pleasures; and He will see you through any affliction that comes your way.”
We are not to deny the very humanity that God created. A culture of suppression creates an epidemic of prodigals. Interesting is the good father’s response when the prodigal returns, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast to celebrate.” (NIV)
The prodigal did not realize the pleasures of life were available in his father’s house.
Whenever I read this scripture I am reminded of a sweet celebration. I was working on passing a state exam which proved difficult for me. After several failures, my entire community was aware of my struggles and praying for me. A precious sister gave me one of the most prophetic gifts I have ever received. She gifted me with a “fattened calf dinner celebration” before I passed the exam. The actual dinner landed on the day I ended up passing but all the extensive preparation went into the meal before any of us knew if I would pass or not.
I felt special and loved that day. All the frustration and disappointment leading up to that moment did not compare to the realization of my friend’s hope in me.
When we choose to live a life of celebration we are not only deterred from looking to worldly pleasures for relief from trails but we are prophetically demonstrating our hope in God.
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