Be Filled with the Joy of the Lord
(Nehemiah 8:8?10)
God is a loving Father who waits for us to repent and return, even when we stumble into sin. When we turn back to Him, He embraces us and leads us into a blessed life. Remembering this grace, just as the people of Judah rebuilt their ruined walls after seventy years of Babylonian captivity, let us also seek to rebuild the broken walls of our faith.

1. The Grace of the Word
　　　When the people of Judah gathered, Ezra blessed the Lord and read the Word clearly, helping the people understand its meaning. As they listened, they wept (Nehemiah 8:6, 8?9). Their tears flowed because their sins and weaknesses were exposed before the Word, and the lost sense of God’s love was restored. This shows that the first grace we must recover is the grace of the Word. Scripture is the language of God’s love, written by His inspiration, and it carries the power to pierce and transform our hearts and minds (2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12). May the grace of rising again through the Word be renewed among us, rebuilding the broken walls of our hearts.
　　　
2. The Grace of Sharing
　　　Nehemiah and Ezra encouraged the people, who were weeping under the conviction of the Word, to set aside their sorrow, eat the rich food before them, and share with those who had nothing (Nehemiah 8:10). Having realized the grace of God, the people returned home, shared their meals, and experienced great joy (Nehemiah 8:12). God’s grace deepens when it is shared. After the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost, the early church in Jerusalem shared their possessions freely, giving to anyone in need (Acts 2:44?46; 4:32). As a result, the church earned the praise of the people, and the number of those being saved increased daily (Acts 2:47). Today’s church, too, must restore this grace of sharing. By caring for the vulnerable and the needy, the church becomes a bright light to the world.
　　　
3. The Grace of Full Joy
　　　We must always rejoice and give thanks for the grace the Lord has given. Nehemiah told the people not to grieve, for “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Those who have encountered God’s grace fill their days not with worry or anxiety, but with joy and gratitude, sharing that joy and serving others (Colossians 2:6?7). We also must hold tightly to the grace we have received and continually walk forward with joyful and thankful hearts. May we all rejoice in God’s grace, share it with one another, and practice love toward those in need so we can experience together the grace of full and overflowing joy.

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