Then you and the Levites and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household.
Deuteronomy 26:11
God saved the Israelites from slavery and brought them into the holy land, which they should conquer and cultivate. He wanted to bless their work so they would have a rich harvest. And than, they where supposed to come to the Lord and present Him some of their harvest as a sign of gratitude, since He is the reason for their blessing and not just their own doings.
God likes us to look back and thank Him for all the blessings. When we look back and see where we where at that time and what He freed us from. When we think about how His great deeds saved and healed us. When we think of His love and all the different ways He shows His love. When we think of all the small and large things He has done for us.
He wants us to be delighted in Him and to have a light and happy heart. He is the Lord who gloriously reigns. And we are His children whom He leads, protects and loves.
Through us remembering His former deeds he wants to take our fear of the future. He never changes and loves His people the same way tomorrow as today!
Truly, with Him we can be happy and full of joy for the new day, new week or new year! He, our good shepherd, is with us!
He wants us to accept even foreigners in our community’s. That could be refugees, guests or people that don’t know Jesus. Those people should get to know the joy of Jesus. He is a friend to all people! He himself fled as a child from Herod and found refuge in Egypt. He knows how it feels to be fleeing and to be a stranger in a strange country. We should pass on our joy! God is the reason for our joy!
Thank You Jesus, thanks to You I don’t only have reason to give thanks but also reason to be joyful! You helped me yesterday and You will help me today. You are with me, hallelujah!

Bible reading today: 1 Corinthians 15:45-58