Dear Rose Park,
As I write this letter to you from my study, I am experiencing two polar opposite feelings. On the one hand I’m seeing a small sign on my shelf that says, “This is the day the Lord has made” which reminds me of all the blessings I have and the words “let us rejoice and be glad in it” naturally come out of my mouth. On the other hand, I’m looking out my window and seeing gray skies, hearing the wind whip, and even the sound of small hail/snow hit my window. I want to rejoice and be glad, but I don’t really feel like it on this particular day that the Lord has made.
But then I look back at the sign sitting on my shelf and I notice what it doesn’t say. It doesn’t say “This is the day the Lord has made…so only rejoice if you feel like it.” It doesn’t say “This is the day the Lord has made…so only rejoice if the sun is shining.” And it doesn’t say “This is the day the Lord has made…so only rejoice if your circumstances are favorable.”
Our feelings, our circumstances, and even the weather are important, but they aren’t so important that we should allow them to dictate our worship of God. Too often we find our actions being chained to our emotions. We say things like, “I don’t feel like doing the dishes.” If I waited for the moment when I felt like doing the dishes, I would never do the dishes because I never feel like it; similarly, if we wait for the perfect moment when we finally feel like worshipping, serving, rejoicing, or giving our lives to God then we will be waiting for a very long time.
Instead, let our actions bring our feelings along. Let us find ourselves rejoicing and serving God so frequently and regularly that our feelings no longer hold the authority to stop our actions. Let us do this not only for our growth but also for those around us. May our children and the next generation see our devotion to God and be encouraged. As the Gospel of John reminds us, let our community “see our good works and give glory to our Father in heaven.”
Don’t wait for the right time or the perfect moment, instead embrace today because this is the day the Lord has made, so let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Mark