Had kind of an energetic small group last night. Ours are “sermon based” small groups . . . that is, our small groups get together to review and talk through the Sunday morning sermon. Yesterday morning we were blessed as we were taken through Genesis 10 and 11 and then given some food to chew on as to the implications of being a chosen people of God. The study questions we were given centered our discussion on the unique call of Israel . . . God’s purpose in it . . . and their response to such a call. And they pointed us to Scripture that talk of our “chosen-ness” as believers . . . the nature of our calling . . . and, if we really understood who we are as the people of God, what impact it would have on our lives.

We ended up closing out our study with Psalm 149. And if I’m picking up what this psalm is laying down . . . I should be doing more dancing!

If we really grasped what it meant to be the people of God we would sing to the Lord a new song . . . we would praise His name in the assembly . . . we would be glad in our Maker and rejoice in our King . . . our feet would be set to praise-fueled dancing and we would make melody to the One who takes pleasure in His people and adorns them with salvation (Ps. 149:1-4). We would exult in glory . . . sing for joy on our beds . . . and let the high praises of God be in our throats (149:5-6a). We ended our study with a spirited discussion on “forms of worship” and the degree to which we show (or don’t show) emotion . . . me thinking that maybe I should be doing more dancing.

This morning, as I read the first part of Romans 5, I had a bit of a flashback to last night . . .

More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.    (Romans 5:11 ESV)

The first eleven verses of Romans 5 set the heart to soaring. Perhaps, says Paul, on rare occasions one might give their life for a righteous or a good person . . . but God demonstrates His love for His special people in that “while we were still weak” (5:6) . . . “while we were still sinners” (5:8) . . . “while we were enemies” (5:10) . . . Christ died for us, providing for the way of reconciliation. As such, through Christ “we have peace with God” (5:1) . . . moreover, “through Him we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand” (5:2) . . . and (and this is what caused the flashback to last night’s conversation) “we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (5:11).

Christ’s ministry is an enabling ministry . . . enabling redemption . . . enabling justification . . . enabling reconciliation . . . enabling access into grace . . . and, enabling rejoicing.

The word “rejoice” has, at its root, the idea of boasting. Most often the NKJV translates the word as “to glory in something.” Through Christ I am to rejoice in God . . . to glory in His work of salvation . . . to boast of His amazing grace and of His love poured out on those who brought nothing to the table but their weakness . . . their sinfulness . . . and that they were at enmity with God.

Rejoice saint! Rejoice in God! Rejoice through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Glory in His calling . . . wonder in His provision . . . boast of the God who has done all things well. Bless the Lord for His many benefits . . . and ascribe to Him alone the glory due His name.

How can God’s people not be a praising people? How can we not keep our tongues from exulting His greatness . . . how can we not keep our feet from dancing (or, at least our toes from tapping) as we revel in the wonder of His love?

Maybe I should be doing more dancing . . . for His glory. Amen?