Joy and Delight

Jer. 15:16

Your words were found and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.

What a beautiful attitude toward God's words! Oh that I might be an eater of God's words, that I might devour them and treasure them! What in this world do I joy and take delight in? Family, friends, possessions, esteem? All of those things pale in light of God's word, or should I say should pale. How easily distracted are our hearts! How easily turned to value what is temporal and earthly! We often forget whose name we have taken or has taken us. We are bought with the price of the life of the Son of God and are no longer our own. We are His, and because of this one fact we must take delight in the things that are eternal, in the things that are filled with Jesus.  We must eat the words because they are He. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word, the living Word, the Logos is Jesus Christ. He is our delight and our joy!

Father,

Give me an unquenchable appetite for the Word, for Jesus. Give me that delight and joy that only comes from You. Help me to always remember who has called me and who is my owner. Help me to remember I am called by Your name!

In the name of the Word,

Amen

Final Remarks and Benediction

Heb. 13

This chapter deals with so many issues ranging from hospitality to strangers to adultery and sexually immoral people. The Bible has a word on all the things that we need to know. I want to list some of the topics covered in this chapter: 

• Be hospitable to strangers.
• Remember those who are in prison.
• Hold marriage and the marriage bed in honor and undefiled.
• Keep free from loving money.
• Be content.
• Don't fear what man can do to you.
• Remember leaders, those who taught us the word, and imitate their lives.
• Jesus is timeless and unchanging.
• Watch out for diverse and strange teachings.
• Be strengthened by grace and not foods.
• Jesus suffered outside the camp and shed His blood for us. 
• We have a lasting city yet to come.
• Through Jesus we an offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name.
• Do good.
• Share what you have.
• Obey leaders and submit to them because they keep watch on our souls.
• Pray for believers.

So much vital information all packed into one chapter. And yet there is more. The book has a beautiful and fitting benediction.

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Father,

I ask that through Jesus You equip me with everything good that I may do Your will. I want to be pleasing in Your sight and give glory to Jesus who is the rightful owner of all glory forever,

In His name,

Amen