General Rejoicing

Readings:
I Chronicles 13
Acts 8:2-25

Focus:
I Chronicles 13:8:"David and all Israel danced for joy before the Lord with all their might to the sound of singing, of lyres, lutes, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets."
Acts 8:12:"But when they came to believe Philip, with his good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, men and women alike were baptized."

Sometimes it feels like not very many people care about God. But there have been other times when lots of people have joined together with enthusiasm in belief and worship. Two of those times are in these readings.

When David had become king, he decided to bring the Ark of God to Jerusalem. It had been in a sort of temporary location due to some complicated history. When the Ark was being carried towards Jerusalem, there was great happiness, and David and many other people danced for joy. They were overwhelmed with happiness that the Ark, the symbol of God, was going to be in their midst.

When Philip went down from Jerusalem to a Samaritan town and preached, large numbers of the population listened attentively and became Christians. It was so impressive that more apostles came from Jerusalem to help out. All of them were happy in their new faith.

It's good to think about these times when there have been large groups of people rejoicing together in their faith in God. We have a connection with them; all believers are in the family of God together. In a sense we can rejoice with them, too.