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June 13, 2024
“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!”
I have learned that God loves to exceed our expectations and break open our boxes. For example today let us think about our Father in Heaven as a God who is "Fun". I was talking with a friend recently and we were talking about the varied perceptions of God that many people have. Sadly, the notion of God most common is that God is not loving toward all he has made, but a God waiting to exact some form of retribution for our actions that he might deem "sin". You know "God is out to get you" kind of thinking. My friend and I felt that this is a terrible misconception and distortion of the Bible's picture of God.
I am convinced that the Bible contains evidence that God desires to reveal to us the immense joy of having Him as our Good Father. He yearns to lead us into a life filled with enjoyment, pleasure, and overflowing joy, and yes, "fun" as we deepen our relationship with Him.
Indeed, the joy found in God can differ greatly from worldly pleasures. Scripture provides numerous instances of God's children experiencing a profound happiness that is only possible through a relationship with him. David writes in Psalm 16:11, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” God alone guides us to the path of true life. God alone frees us, heals us, loves us, rejoices over us, has grace for us, and longs to fully satisfy our desires.
In John 10:10 Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” We need to understand deep in our spirit that God longs to lead us to the fullness of life. God's desire is to lead us into the abundance of His love, so that we may know the joy of being truly treasured by our Creator, Sustainer, and Lord.
God loves to celebrate and with his children. Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 says, “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy.”
Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine to keep a wedding feast going (John 2:1-11). The Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 is the story Jesus told of an earthly father and son and a parallel to our relationship with the heavenly Father. When the prodigal son returns home, the father tells his servants, “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” (Luke 15:22-24). And Revelation 19 points ahead to the great marriage supper of the Lamb where we will celebrate our total and complete union with God, "the party to end all parties."
Psalm 30:11-12 says, “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!” Our heavenly Father desires to guide us into days that are filled with joy and happiness, and wants to transform our sorrow into celebration.
The God we worship is the creator of joy and delights in rejoicing with His children. He aims to enrich our lives with experiences that satisfy our deepest yearnings, including those for "fun".
Today, may we discover the joyful heart of our heavenly Father.
Where do you need God to clothe you with gladness?
Where do you need to experience the abundant life Jesus died to give you?
GO
Sometimes we hold to an idea that advancing the kingdom and having fun don’t go together. We leave parties and fun to others as we are too busy with more important matters. But why would a nonbeliever want to get to know a boring God? Why would they want to spend time with a group of boring people? As children of God, we have the greatest source of joy available. We should be the happiest, most fun, and most loving people the lost will ever encounter. It’s in our joy, love, and fun that we will best advance the kingdom. It’s living the abundant life God longs to give us that will encourage others to want to know the God we serve. May you advance the kingdom of your heavenly Father by living today with the fullness of fun.
Extended Reading: Luke 15 or watch The Bible Project’s video on Luke 10-24.
May you advance the kingdom of your heavenly Father by living today with the fullness of fun.
Where do you need more fun in your life? Where do you need God to clothe you with gladness? Where do you need to experience the abundant life Jesus died to give you?
3. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to have the fullness of fun today. What is he providing for you that you might experience all the joy and celebration available to you? What is keeping you from living a more fun life? He wants to free you today. Spend timing resting in his presence and allow him to do a work in your heart today.
WORSHIP
GO
Sometimes we hold to an idea that advancing the kingdom and having fun don’t go together. We leave parties and fun to others as we are too busy with more important matters. But why would a nonbeliever want to get to know a boring God? Why would they want to spend time with a group of boring people? As children of God, we have the greatest source of joy available. We should be the happiest, most fun, and most loving people the lost will ever encounter. It’s in our joy, love, and fun that we will best advance the kingdom. It’s living the abundant life God longs to give us that will encourage others to want to know the God we serve. May you advance the kingdom of your heavenly Father by living today with the fullness of fun.
Extended Reading: Luke 15 or watch The Bible Project’s video on Luke 10-24.
May you advance the kingdom of your heavenly Father by living today with the fullness of fun.
PRAYER
1. Meditate on God’s desire to give you a fun life. Allow Scripture to reorient your understanding of what it’s like to live life with your heavenly Father.
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
2. Where do you need more fun in your life? Where do you need God to clothe you with gladness? Where do you need to experience the abundant life Jesus died to give you?
3. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to have the fullness of fun today. What is he providing for you that you might experience all the joy and celebration available to you? What is keeping you from living a more fun life? He wants to free you today. Spend timing resting in his presence and allow him to do a work in your heart today.
WORSHIP
GO
Sometimes we hold to an idea that advancing the kingdom and having fun don’t go together. We leave parties and fun to others as we are too busy with more important matters. But why would a nonbeliever want to get to know a boring God? Why would they want to spend time with a group of boring people? As children of God, we have the greatest source of joy available. We should be the happiest, most fun, and most loving people the lost will ever encounter. It’s in our joy, love, and fun that we will best advance the kingdom. It’s living the abundant life God longs to give us that will encourage others to want to know the God we serve. May you advance the kingdom of your heavenly Father by living today with the fullness of fun.
Extended Reading: Luke 15 or watch The Bible Project’s video on Luke 10-24.
May you advance the kingdom of your heavenly Father by living today with the fullness of fun.
GO
Sometimes we hold to an idea that advancing the kingdom and having fun don’t go together. We leave parties and fun to others as we are too busy with more important matters. But why would a nonbeliever want to get to know a boring God? Why would they want to spend time with a group of boring people? As children of God, we have the greatest source of joy available. We should be the happiest, most fun, and most loving people the lost will ever encounter. It’s in our joy, love, and fun that we will best advance the kingdom. It’s living the abundant life God longs to give us that will encourage others to want to know the God we serve. May you advance the kingdom of your heavenly Father by living today with the fullness of fun.
Extended Reading: Luke 15 or watch The Bible Project’s video on Luke 10-24.
May you advance the kingdom of your heavenly Father by living today with the fullness of fun.
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