DAY 3: WHAT A BEAUTIFUL NOISE

I don’t know about you, but my home is anything but quiet. When my children were younger, I sometimes wished for just a few moments of peace and quiet. While one kid was practicing on the piano, another one was trying to tell a story from school that had no ending in sight. While yet another one was trying to bargain for more screen time. These “noises” that make up a home are one of the reasons that David wished to stay in the Lord’s house.

When David describes his Father’s home, it seems to be quite a noisy place! “At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music” (Psalms 27:6, NLT). There is no mention of a Father dampening the enthusiasm of his children. David longed for a place where he could live without restraint. Always surrounded by noises of joy and laughter.

Again, Jesus affirms this truth about his Father’s house in the New Testament. When a bunch of parents brought their noisy kids to Jesus, He was delighted to spend time with them. “Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, ‘Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children’” (Luke 18:16, NLT). It sure seems like our heavenly home is a carefree place.

When Jesus makes his home in us, we can experience the joyful noises of home all the time. Through Christ, we can join the heavens in praise and joyful noise. “You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai… No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering” (Hebrews 12:22, NLT).

Do you long for a home filled with joy, music, and laughter? Do you believe that you are welcome in our Father’s happy home through Christ?

Let us embrace the beautiful noises of our heavenly home. Let us contribute to the shouts of joy and praise in heaven by worshiping the Lord with all our hearts. “Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, ‘You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive the glory and honor and power..’” (Revelation 4:9-11, NLT).

Scripture readings:

Psalms 27:6

Luke 18:15-17

Hebrews 12:18-29

Revelation 4:1-11