2. CELEBRATE THE LAW-KEEPER WITHIN

NEW SERIES: LET’S SLOW DOWN & CELEBRATE AUTUMN 

One of the focuses of the Feast of Tabernacles, celebrated this last week (see last week’s post), is God’s goodness in providing for our needs. And of course, His ultimate provision for humanity was Jesus. On the cross Jesus paid the ultimate price so that every human need could be met. Forgiveness is wonderful, but the cross isn’t just about forgiveness. Everything that the Evil One has sought to destroy in humanity was dealt with on the cross.

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
[1 John 3:8]
 
Having disarmed the powers and authorities,
He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
[Colossians 2:15]

We can never spend too much time thinking about it. If we meditate daily for the rest of our lives, we’ll only uncover a fraction of the wonders of the cross on our behalf.

But there’s more…

​The eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles was to be sacred assembly [Leviticus 23:36]. It is now known as Simchat Torah (and takes place today) which literally means ‘Rejoicing in the Law’. Over the centuries, as well as the concentration on thanksgiving for the provision of God in the harvest, the feast had also become focused on thanksgiving for the Law.

​So, when Jesus stood up on the last day of the feast and proclaimed...

'Let anyone who is thirsty come to me
​and drink. 
Whoever believes in me,
as Scripture has said,
rivers of living water will flow
​from within them.'
[John 7:38]

...​He was announcing that something better than the written Law was coming. No longer would people have to strive and strain to keep God’s Commandments—and fail miserably—the Holy Spirit would be poured out to enable them to do it. Rivers of life; rivers of love; rivers of patience; rivers of peace… The law would be written, not on tablets of stone, but in people’s hearts.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you;
I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 
And I will put my Spirit in you
​and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
[Ezekiel 36:26,27]

Not only are we to celebrate God’s amazing provision for us in the finished work of Jesus, but also His present provision for us in the person and work of the Holy Spirit—God working in us to fulfil all His good purposes.
​
Why not pause awhile and ponder the amazing truth of the Holy Spirit in you—Christ in you, the hope of glory.

​You can read more on these important truths on the following pages:

THE POWER OF THE CROSS
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND YOU
REFLECTIONS ON THE CROSS
REFLECTIONS ON THE HOLY SPIRIT

​THIS WEEK’S GRACE RHYTHM:

Get very quiet inside, then turn your heart towards the Lord and listen...

NEXT WEEK: PREPARING FOR FESTIVAL
Festival is an invitation from the Father to celebrate His goodness...

​My Autumn Gift for You...

​The Foundations and New Mindsets sections of this website, 
with additional material, and questions for personal or group reflection, study and discussion are available in Paperback and Kindle format. 

​In keeping with celebrating this season of fruitfulness I would love this material to benefit as many people as possible, both those who want to dig deeper in their faith, and those who are not-yet-Christians.

​So, until 15th October, I am offering this book in paperback and kindle format at the lowest prices Amazon will allow me to.

GET IN TOUCH!

​If you have been blessed, inspired or challenged by this post…

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[Photo credits:  Cdoncel (cross); Nathan Anderson (stream); Sean Foster (billboard); Martin Sanchez (man on rock);
​Art Lasovsky (pen) @ Unsplash, with thanks]