Sad but Glad

The overall theme for the evening was Experiencing Being accountable to a “new” family [Ephesians 4.1-6].  Being accountable to a new family by being honest with self, others, and God.

(A workbook listing several character qualities was distributed to all Remedy participants to assist them in completing an “honest and thorough moral inventory.”)

The journey of recovery is a tough road.  It is full of obstacles and challenges we would rather avoid or somehow simply skip over them.

But then, our journey wouldn’t be about learning to live life differently.  It would be about remaining in denial and insanity.  Denying we have “issues” and doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result. 

This part of the journey is hard.  It will require close self-examination and honesty with God and yourself.

Most of us cringe at the thought of taking an honest look at ourselves because we know there is pain, bitterness, sadness, and most likely some tears involved in this part of the journey. 

The reason for this part of the journey is not to discover how good or bad you are and regain some moral ground.   It is to begin the process of being honest with yourself.  While it’s true that “the truth will set you free” (John 8.32) it often makes you very uncomfortable first! 

Nehemiah 8. 1-12. 

Background: The Jews had returned from 70 years of foreign captivity in Babylon. While they were in Babylon, the Jews were not able to practice their religion. In fact, for the most part, they did not have access to the Law of God. For most of the captives, whatever they knew of their faith came from memory or the memories of others. By the end of the 70 years, they had forgotten far more than they remembered about God and how to live a God-centered life.

Some of us have experienced what I would call “spiritual exile.”  We wandered away from our spiritual roots and have “forgotten more than we remembered.”  Others have simply never heard the Good News of Jesus.  I existed for nearly 40 years without the Bible being an important part of my life.  … literally in spiritual exile. 

After having rebuilt the Temple and having just completed re-building the wall around Jerusalem so that they might enjoy security from their enemies, Ezra the priestly scribe believed it was time to begin teaching the people the Holy Scriptures.

(READ Nehemiah 8:1-9)

When they heard the Word of God, they were profoundly grieved. They were convicted. The more they heard the more they realized just how far they had strayed from God. Their failure was evident. Their guilt was obvious and they felt it deeply. They wept in sorrow.

I don’t doubt some will have feelings of guilt; will weep in sorrow.  Most will “skin their knee” or “re-open a wound” they thought was closed.  And, although it may have been “closed,” perhaps for it to heal completely, it needed to be “re- opened.” 

(READ Nehemiah 8:10-12)

Nehemiah 8:10 says that "The joy of the Lord is our strength," but joy and happiness are not the same thing. The "joy of the Lord" is a deep sense of satisfaction and contentment that comes from knowing that God loves you deeply and is always with you.

The joy of the Lord comes from recognizing, even celebrating, that God will bring us out of exile; out of the bondage of our past and replace whatever sorrow, pain, or bitterness this exercise might create within us with a sense of JOY.  For it is when we move beyond denial and insanity that we find true joy in life!  And that is God’s desire for us.  Jesus said it was that reason He came… “to give us life and life to the full.” 

Nehemiah 8.10 also states we are to “go and celebrate with a feast … and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared.” 

A generous donor provided the entire Remedy group with a dinner of fried chicken, potato salad, cookies, and soft drinks!  WE HAD A MEAL AS A FAMILY!!!   We celebrated with a feast!!