Don't Dabble With Danger

Monday, October 31, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 13:1-5

Reflection: This is a difficult passage because it seems to the modern mind to be religious racism. Removed from the larger context, it looks like God has asked his people to exclude anyone who comes from a specific ethnic background from the worship of God. However, it needs to be remembered that a fragile people are in the process of reestablishing the foundations upon which their entire society will be built. Proper and pure worship will be critical for the future of the people. However, the Israelite people have proven over and over that they have a hard time preventing their faith from being defiled by surrounding nations. The Israelites tend to worship other gods and adapt impure rituals for their own religious expression. For that reason, God orders them to remove any people who might lead them down the wrong path. In this way, what God is doing has more to do with the weaknesses of the Israelites than it does the wickedness of the nations. We would do well to remember this truth. All of us have certain areas of weakness. In those areas, we need to completely remove those things that can lead us astray. If we dabble with danger, we will end up wandering from God and distorting our worship.

Providing For God's Servants

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 12:44-47

Reflection: I think it is important to note that these ministers were called to "...perform the service of their God..." This is important because in some ways it changes the purpose of the funds gathered for the sake of the servants of God. Too often in our day we see the minister's role within the church as a job. We tend to think that they are called to serve the people, who then are to give them a paycheck for services rendered. This makes the relationship between the people and the servant one of an employer/employee relationship. It also means the the money is a salary paid for services rendered. I think this is not only dangerous, but misses the point of the salary. I believe that major rold of the minister is to serve their God, not their people. This is not to say that the minister does not provide service for the sake of his people. Certainly this is what the minister does. However, the minister is accountable ultimately to the God who called him, not the people who are served by him. In addition, the amount the minister is paid is not a salary. Instead, the people are simply meeting the needs of the pastor so that he or she can be singularly devoted to using their gifts for the sake of the people. The goal is not to pay the minister for services rendered, but to provide an environment for unhindered service. This changes the relationship from one of employer/employee to one of server/served. It may seem like a small thing, but I think the difference is significant.

The Sacrifice of Prayer

Friday, October 28, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 12:38-43

Reflection: It's interesting to note that the people's thankful songs of praise and open expressions of joy are accompanied by "great sacrifices." In other words, the people did not just give lip service to their thankfulness, they actually gave a costly sacrifice. Now, we don't know if those sacrifices were grain offerings or the offering of animals to the Lord. But the actual type of sacrifice matters much less than the fact that they were willing to put money where their mouths were....literally. Some years earlier David stated a similar thing when he said that he would not offer to the Lord his God that which costs him nothing. Jesus would later say that you and I have to make a choice between worshipping either God or money, but not both. Maybe there is a lesson here for all of us. Maybe money is much more tempting to us than we would care to admit? Maybe one of the best ways to ensure that money never gets in the way of worship is not to "get rid of our money" as much as it is to "give our money to God." Maybe as we give God not just our lips for praise, but our money for mission, our hearts become more and more committed to him and less and less committed to ourselves and our own kingdoms. Maybe this is why Jesus told us that our hearts will be where our treasure is located. So, maybe we all need to think of giving more to God and keeping less for ourselves. As we do, our hearts become more committed to Jesus and our songs become costly sacrifices of praise.

God...And Others...Remember

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 12:31-37

Reflection: This is one of those passages of scripture where you scratch your head and wonder, "So what do I get out of this?" It's been placed within the sacred texts of the Christian faith so there must be lessons. Yet, what can I learn by reading about a group of leaders and a choir walking around the top of a wall. Well, there are a couple of things that stand out to me...and both of them deal with the issue of remembering. First, the fact that seemingly insignificant texts like this are retained in the scriptures reminds us that God remembers not simply the "big" things in our lives, but what we do in the mundane things of daily life as well. God is concerned about not just the epic events of my life, but the day to day affairs of my existence. That is both encouraging and frightening. This means there is nothing I do that God does not watch over, and nothing I do for which I will not be accountable. Second, this text reminds us that we are all remembered for something. Here, in this passage, David is remembered as a godly man who, while not perfect, sought to follow God faithfully. How will we be remembered? Will our faith cause us to act in such a way that generations later others will still be talking of the good we did in Jesus' name? Or will I simply skate by and be remembered as a guy who simply got by and looked after myself. May God give us the courage to live boldly so that our memories will stir others to rise up and make a difference.

It's Time To Celebrate

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 12:27-30

Reflection: OK...I know it's late for me to be blogging, but the morning was a bit hectic. I'm sitting at the airport waiting for my mom to arrive, and am reading about what happened many years ago after Nehemiah helped the people complete the wall. As the people ready themselves to celebrate, several things strike my attention. First is the central place that music has always played in a celebration. Now, this is true whether the celebration is secular or sacred. However, in this case the celebration is sacred. So, the Levites ready themselves to lead in joyful song as the musicians join in. Those who will lift their voices to lead in singing are gathered together and I suppose they took some time to practice as well. There seems to be something about singing that lifts the spirit and encourages the heart. So, when we celebrate we sing. The second thing I notice is that before the people lift their voices in song, they purify their hearts with washing. Now, I realize that the washing here is symbolic. But symbols provide an outward sign of an internal reality. So, outwardly the people are showing what inwardly they were called to do...namely to purify themselves from the stain of sin. It seems to me that we should do the same. Before we lift our voices in praise during our Sunday celebrations, we should likely search our hearts and ask for forgiveness. Then, once our hearts are right and our heads are clear, we can lift our voices without shame or reservation. So, once we are purified from the inside out, it's time to celebrate. Let us therefore daily set things right so that our lives are filled with a clear conscience and a readiness to celebrate.

Leading Others in Praise and Thanksgiving

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 12:1-26

Reflection: I found two comments interesting within this section of scripture. For the most part, this passage felt like a kind of laundry list of those leaders who were in the land. However, in verse 8 we see a group of people who seem to be in charge of the songs of thanksgiving when the people gather for worship. In addition, verse 24 shows us a picture of leaders who stand opposite each other giving praise and thanksgiving. In fact, it is worded in such a way that it appears one group lifts their voice in praise while the other responds their praise by lifting their voice in thanksgiving. In this way one group responds to the other group, and apparently the gathered people of God are inspired by this act of leadership. If I am reading this right, it is a great reminder that one of the things leaders are to do is to remind the people of all the things for which they should rightly praise God, and encourage the people to offer both praise and thanks to God for all He has done for us. Leadership is needed here because we tend to make one of two mistakes in this area. If things are going well, we tend to forget that God is the source of our blessing and give ourselves credit for the blessed situation. However, if things are not going well we tend to forget all that we have been given and tend to blame God for not making our lives better. So, rather than taking credit from God or assigning blame to God, leaders seek to remind people of all that God has given and encourage a response of praise and thanksgiving. May all of us who find ourselves in positions of leadership move people toward praise and thankfulness.

It's Pathetic to be Apathetic

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 10:36-39

Reflection: Some people get up in arms when people lash out in anger against the church and the gospel message the church seeks to proclaim. Many seem to think that it is the height of sinfulness and completely pathetic when people created by God are hostile to the very message provided by that creator for the welfare of His creation. And trust me, I understand the anger against this opposition. However, as bad as our culture's open hostility to the gospel might be...and it is bad...there is something much more sinister happening in our day. We need to be reminded that what is worse than the anger of unbelievers is the apathy of those who claim to believe. What is worse is the fact that seven out of ten Americans define themselves as Christian and yet never attend a local church, never read or study their bible, never tithe to the church or parachurch ministries, never seek to advance the message of the gospel, and never seek to bring their lives in line with the message of the Christian faith that they claim defines their belief system. What is much more pathetic than the anger of those who oppose our message is the apathy of those who say they do suppor the gosepl. In our reading today, we see that the chapter closes with a commitment on the part of the people to "not neglect the house of our God." In other words, they refuse to separate their faith from life. They will give offerings. They will offer their families. They will ensure that the worship of their God moves beyond lip service to heart commitment. Now, that is what is needed in our day. We need people who get beyond the apathy and are once again passionate to live out their faith. For the truth of the matter is this: Apathy toward a gospel that you claim saved your soul and defines your identity is truly pathetic.

The Importance of Family

Friday, October 21, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 10:30-35

Refelction: The foundational element of any society is the family. It is from our families that we gain our concept of right and wrong. It is within the family that we learn how to interact with people, how to deal with conflict, what to believe and how to allow those beliefs are to impact daily life. We learn how to love and be loved within our families. We learn who we are as people and gain our gifts and talents as we interact within the family. When a society's families break down, the society is on the verge of collapse as well. This is what is behind the comment within this scripture reading to not intermarry with the surrounding nations. Those nations surrounding Israel do not hold the same values or worship the same God as Israel. If they begin to give their sons and daughters in marriage to such people, it will not be long before the countries worship is altered and morals confused. In order to avoid that reality, the people seek to ensure that they stay focused on proper worship and values clarification by protecting the family. We would do well to consider the same thing in our day. The family is under attack from all angles. If we are going to have a healthy society, however, we need to take the time to protect the health of our families. After all, they are the foundation of our society.

The Carrot and the Stick

Thursday, October 20, 2011
Reading: Nehemiah 9:38-10:29
Reflection: When I was a little boy, my dad used to deal with me by using both a carrot and a stick. What do I mean by that? Well, in order to get me to do what I was supposed to do, my dad would dangle a carrot in front of me. The carrot could be anything I truly wanted to gain for myself. It could be a movie with my friends, a day of hiking in the hills, or a night spent at the arcade. The idea was that I would do what I should because of the reward I would receive. However, he also had a stick...which symbolized punishment. If I still chose not to do what I should, then my dad would give me some kind of punishment to motivate me. The overall idea was to use both positive rewards and negative discipline in order to motivate my actions. We see that happening in this portion of scripture. Toward the end of this passage we read that the people binding themselves to their agreement with both an oath and a curse. The oath is the positive pledge to do that which is right, which will then be rewarded by a watching God. Likewise, if they don't do what they have agreed to do, this same watching God will come in punishment in order to fulfill the curse. In essence, its the old carrot and stick approach. Of course, it is always best to simply do what we should simply because it is the right thing to do. There should be no need for a reward and no threat of punishment. But being the kind of people we are, we often need these external motivators to press us forward. So, as you go through your day, remember that when you do what is right there will always be a reward, even if that reward is simply the approval of a watching God. Likewise, if we do that which is wrong their will be natural and negative consequences. So, let's do what's right and enjoy the carrot and we have no need to fear the stick.

The Lost Art of Taking Responsibility

Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Reading: Nehemiah 9:32-37
Reflection: When I was a boy I had a difficult time taking responsibility for my own actions. I would often blame by siblings for things that I had done. I would blame friends or neighbors to cover my faults. I would blame situations, circumstances or even my parents for my own failures. Of course, this does not make me particularly unusual. This is what many people do when they are mere children. However, one of the signs that we have moved beyond childhood to adulthood is the ability to take ownership of one's conduct and seek to grow through errors. Once a person understands this reality, they are ready to be entrusted with important jobs. We see this in the case of Nehemiah within this passage. Notice that Nehemiah openly admits that God has always been just in his actions while he and his people have been unfaithful. He recognizes that they have failed in the past and are therefore now enslaved within the land that was supposed to bring them freedom. However, the fact that he openly admits this reality shows that he is ready to be trusted to lead this people back into the land. Nehemiah will be entrusted with leadership because he can take responsibility for his actions rather than blaming others. What about you? Are you able to admit when you are wrong, or are you always blaming something else for your situation. If you want to move forward in a healthy way, you can't start with denial of personal responsibility. So, while it is a lost art in our day, let's learn to accept responsibility for what we have done and in this way demonstrate that we are ready to be entrusted with real leadership.

The Central Purpose of Discipline

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 9:26-31

Reflection: I know my reading section is a bit off from the devotional...sorry about that. But we will be back on track after today. As I read this passage today, I am reminded of why God chooses to discipline His people. The Bible often calls God our heavenly father. I can remember the discipline of my father. In fact, I can remember times when I disagreed with the rules and restrictions of my father. I didn't disagree because I knew that those things were bad for me. In fact, most of the time I was pretty sure that those rules and restrictions were filled with wisdom. I knew that if I followed those things that I would be kept safe and secure. I also didn't disobey them because they were oppressive. Now, I'm sure I complained that they were too strict, but deep inside I think I realized that compared to the freedoms I enjoyed, the restrictions were fairly minimal. I disobeyed because I was stubborn, prideful and often bent on evil. I also realize that when my dad disciplined me for my disobedience, he didn't do it to punish me or make my life miserable. He did so in order to protect my life and guide me toward that which was good and productive. God, in this passage, does the same thing. We see that God is not an oppresive ruler who seeks to bring pain to His people. Rather, He is compassionate and merciful. His goal is to bring life to His people. So, God's discipline is designed not to bring pain but to preserve life. If we can remember that, perhaps we can welcome His discipline rather than being stiff-necked people who constantly resist the guidance of the Spirit.

Replacing Pride With Humble Thanks

Monday, October 17, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 9:22-25

Reflection: There are two phrases that really stand out to me as I read this short passage of scripture. First is the repeated references to what "God has done" for the Jewish people. We are told over and over that God gave them kingdoms and nations, made their sons numerous and successful in their efforts, helped them capture fortefeid cities and gave them food to eat. What is significant about this is that it would be easy to believe that the Jewish people did all of these things on their own. They could brag about their skilled planning or gloat over their execution of carefully made strategies. However, they recognize that their success is due to the hand of God going out before them and granting them success. The second thing I notice is that the Jewish people are said to revel in God's great goodness. In other words, they enjoyed the good things that God gave them. They felt a sense of safety and security, likely because God was with them and fighting for them. How foolish I am when I think that all the good things in my life are the result of my hard work rather than God's good blessing. I am what I am; I have what I have; I enjoy what I enjoy not because I am a great planner or amazing executor of strategy. Rather, it is by God's grace and goodness that I have what I have. That should cause me to be thankful and humble rather than prideful and self-glorifying.

A God Worthy of Our Praise

Friday, October 14, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 9:6-15

Reflection: It is not by chance that the people not only lift their voice in praise, but do so in a way that recounts the history of God with His people. This reality points to certain truths concerning the God of Israel. First, He is a God who creates. In fact, He is the God who created all things. He is the one who gives life to the world and breath to each person. We are here on this planet because of His creative power and goodness. Second, He is active in history. God is not a disconnected deity who set the world in motion and then stepped aside to let it run on its own. Rather, He has injected His power into real history so that He is not only a God who creates, but a God who acts in history. Third, He is a God who makes and keeps promises. In this sense, He is a creative, powerful God who not only acts in history but also keeps His promises to people. In this sense, He is faithful and we can rely on Him to do what He has promised. Finally, God provides for His people. In this case, He provides both food and water so as to feed His people. What this means is this...you and I serve a real God who creates life, acts in history, keeps His promises, and provides for His people. He is personal, present and compassionate. This is our God...and part of the reason He is worthy of our worship and praise!

Reasons To Praise Our God

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 9:1-5

Reflection: We see here in this passage several reasons for Nehemiah, the leaders, and the people to give authentic praise to their God. First of all is the willingness on the part of the people to take the reading and application of God's word seriously. We see this not only in the response to their reading of the word, but their posture at the beginning. We are told when they gather that they are already fasting and wearing sackcloth. In other words, they humbled themselves before God and His word, ready to hear and obey. Second, the people are willing to confess their sins. Rather than blame God for being unfair or placing responsibility for their difficulties on their neighbors, they own their own behavior and openly confess. Third, the people spend an extended period of time in confession, scripture reading, and worship. This is a people fully engaged in their worship. Finally, they praised their everlasting God who made this gathering possible. Here is a people who takes the word seriously, openly confesses sin, lifts their voices and hearts in praise, and fully engage in worship. These are truly reasons to praise God. May we in our own day have the same attitude when it comes to the things of God.

Leading Our Families To Obey God's Word

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 8:13-18

Reflection: What struck me as I read this passage was the phrase, "...the heads of the families...gathered...to give attention to the words of the Law." It seems to me that this indicates a specific role for those men who would seek to be leaders of their families. It is incumbant upon the head of the household to make it a habit of listening to...of giving attention to...the Word of God. In addition, it is significant to see the attitude with which these heads of the household gathered. Once they heard and understood what was required of them, these men immediately took action and did exactly what they were asked to do. I can't help but wonder what would happen in the average Christian family if this were the pattern of male leadership within the home. What would happen if every morning began with the household leader giving attention to understanding the Word of the Lord? What would happen if they immediately made adjustments to their families in order to ensure they were doing exactly what the word required? As men, we need to take these words seriously and commit ourselves to helping our families understand and obey God's Word.

Strength In Joy

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 8:10-12

Reflection: Some years ago I bumped into a Christian who was serious and sober about everything. In fact, they were so sober, that it seemed to me that they felt there was no room in life for playing games and having fun. Christianity, from their perspective, was to be a life of suffering for the sake of the gospel. This serious nature of the Christian life was to be lived out by taking every moment seriously and never wasting any time doing something that brought you joy...or fun...in any way. Now, there is a place for this kind of thinking. It is true that the Christian life is serious business. It is true that we must be willing to suffer for the cause of the gospel. However, it is also true that there is a legitimate place for joyful celebration in the Christian life. Nehemiah seemed to understand this truth in his own day and time. The people all gathered together after a season of hard work and great trial. They listened to the reading of God's word and actually understood what it meant. However, they also felt convicted by what they heard and began to weep and mourn that they were not all that they should have been as people of God. Nehemiah, I'm sure, welcomed this recognition. He will build off this reality to reform the people. However, on this day there was to be no sorrow, no weeping and no mourning. On this day, they were to eat choice food, enjoy quality drink, and fully celebrate. The reason for this was that "the joy of the Lord" was their strength. Strength comes from joy, not sorrow. So, as you enter the world this day, look for reasons to joyfully celebrate what God has done. Be eager to joyfully celebrate God's goodness and grace. Remember that there is a time to be serious and suffering as a believer. However, there is also a time for joyful celebration. Welcome both of these things in your life.

Ancient Preaching

Monday, October 10, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 8:7-9

Reflection: We seem to have here an early example of preaching within the people of God; and notice how similar it is to how preaching is done in our day. First, there is somewhat of an elevated wooden pulpit from which the scriptures are read...similar to our day. Second, the scripture is read in a way that all can hear the text and see the person reading that text...similar to our day. Third, the leaders sought to make the meaning of the text clear. In other words, they explained the historical context, background and even the words so that those who were listening could understand what the actual meaning of the text was to the original audience...similar to our day. Finally, the people were encouraged to understand what it meant...likely referring to an explanation of what they are to do in response to the text...similar to our day. This is encouraging to me as it reveals that we have not chosen the structure of our modern preaching because it fits the culture. Rather, it is the people of God doing what we have historically done in order to help God's people understand and respond to God's will.

Reverence For The Word

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 8:4-6

Reflection: What strikes me in this passage is the great reverence these people gave to God's Word. First of all, the carefully orchestrated the reading so that everyone could hear and see the one who was reading. They built a high wooden platform so that Ezra would be elevated above the people. This was not to elevate the man, but to ensure that when the word was read all could see and hear. Thus, the people reveal that they believe it is absolutely essential for everyone to listen to and respond to God's word. Second, before reading Ezra praises the God who gave it to them. In this Ezra reminds himself and the people that they are not to come before God's word casually. Rather, they are about to hear from the great God who is worthy of their reverence and respect. In response, the people lifted their hands and raised their voices in a way that communicated that they heard and agreed to the call to treat God with respect. Then, to physically show that reverence, they bowed down with their faces to the ground as a means of showing submission to His word and way. We could use a bit more of this reverence to God's word in our day. When the person at the pulpit speaks, he is to speak with reverence as one who shares not his opinions but God's word to the people. The people are to focus in on what is said, eager to submit to the word and apply it to life. When the one who speaks and those who hear behave in this way, God's word produces fruit in the lives of His people.

When People Desire The Word

Friday, October 7, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 7:73b-8:3

Reflection: I think there are so many important principles in this little section of scripture that it is hard to boil it all down to one thing. First, we learn here that the central purpose of Nehemiah's ministry was not to build a wall, but to create an environment within which renewal of worship and transformation of people can take place. In other words, the wall was a means to an end rather than an end in itself. Second, we see that renewal always...ALWAYS...begins with the reading and understanding of God's Word. This is because it is God, not people, who ultimately brings renewal to people. Third, and the focus here in this blog, is that when renewal...or revival... are happening the clergy do not have to beg people to listen to God's Word. Notice that the reason Ezra read the Bible to begin with was because a gathered people begged him to do so. It's also interesting to note that they didn't just read a few verses. Instead we are told that Ezra read from daybreak until noon. This is critical. You see, when people are actually on the edge of revival, they thirst to hear from God. They can't get enough of it. Yet, in our day, we hear so many people say that you can't preach more than 20 minutes because people will not listen that long. The answer to this lack of desire to listen seems to be...at least to certain experts...is not to pray for and work for revival, but to simply give in and give people what they want...less of God's word. I believe that is backwards. We need more of His word. And prior to that we need more of a desire to hear that word. When God's people long to hear from Him...when they ask it to be read and are willing to listen from daybreak to noon, then the people will be revived and the church renewed. So today, ask yourself if you thirst for the word or not. If not, start to pray for yourself and others that you would thirst for the bible like a person wandering for days in the wilderness desires water.

People Matter

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 7:4-73a

Reflection: This is one of those sections of scripture that many of us, myself included, read and find great difficulty gaining something of significance. After all, it's simply a long list of people that I have never known, will never meet, and with which I will never interact. In addition, it doesn't really tell us anything they did, other than the fact that they returned to Jerusalem after being exiled for years. However, there are some significant lessons for us to learn if we think about it. First, the fact that they returned to Jerusalem means by necessity that God watched over these people during their years of captivity. While hauled off from their homeland, God never forgot them. God protected them and provided for them. Second, it means that God kept His promise to them and brought them safely home after a season of discipline. Finally, it reminds us that the people did not exist for Jerusalem, but that Jerusalem existed for the people. Jerusalem matters because people matter. Jerusalem is a place provided by God to the people so that ordinary creatures might know and live with their creator. In the end, this passage reminds us that God protected, provided for, was faithful to people because they matter to Him. When people begin to think that God is against them, they do well to remember that the opposite is true. God is for us, and because of that has sent His Son to rescue us from darkness. We have been captive in exile as sin has reigned over us. Yet, in our years of captivity, God has provided for us, protected us, and been faithful to us. God is on our side...and we matter to Him.

Looking For Truth And Fear

Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Reading: Nehemiah 7:1-3
Reflection: There are several lessons in this little passage. One is the lesson to not become complacent once the initial work is done. A second lesson is to take steps to ensure the protection of the good that has been accomplished. However, this morning what connected with me is two character qualities we are to look for when selecting leaders. In our world it seems that people tend to look at outward qualities such as height, weight, charismatic presence or the ability to deliver speeches that engage the imaginations of people. Nehemiah, however, looks at two internal character qualities that every godly leader must possess. The first is being a man of integrity. Literally, the Hebrew describes him as a man of truth. In other words, leaders need to be men who integrate in a consistent way what they believe into all they do in daily life. They are men who do not just say they believe in God, but they truthfully embody that truth in daily life. If a person has integrity in daily life, they will likely have integrity in their leadership as well. The second quality is a fear of God. A man who chooses to lead others must have a reverence for the God to whom they will give an accounting. This sense of awe and fear inspire the man of God to do what is right, convinced that they will have to answer to their master for the manner in which they led God's people. So, if we wish to be men of God who are good leaders in our communities, our homes and our churches, we need to ensure that we fear God and integrate faith and life. As we do these two things, we ensure that God is pleased with us and will open before us ever expanding opportunities to influence others.

A Word Packed With Meaning

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 6:15-19

Reflection: It's interesting to read the almost casual way in which the completion of the wall is stated within this passage. The text simply says, "So the wall was completed..." Rarely has one word...especially such a small word as "so"...been packed with so much meaning. That word refers to Nehemiah being willing to listen to the pain of his people, feel that pain, pray and fast over that pain, and risk his life to deal with the source of that pain. It refers to God changing the heart of a Persian king as he changes his order to stop the work and helps ensure that the work actually succeeds. It refers to a 1,500 mile journey, a season of personal preparation, a time of challenging the people to rise, the casting of vision, the development of plans, the organizing of people, the gathering of resourses, the willingness to confront enemies, defend families, to work and fight with all you have and with everything you are. All this is packed into that little word "so". Because God was with them the people were able to complete in fifty-two days what they had not been able to do for more than three generations. This is a great reminder to us about the power and presence of God. God can cause us to complete a work quickly when we could not do it on our own over the course of generations. So, whatever you may be facing today, remember this...if God is for us, then who can successfully stand against us.

Make Sure You Test The Spirits

Monday, October 3, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 6:11-14

Reflection: We see here a prime example of a man of God testing the words of someone who claims to have come to his side to offer help. Nehemiah does this by evaluating both the logic and the biblical consistency of the advice. We see here that Shemaiah offering to help Nehemiah byh proposing action that would appear to save his life. In essence, Shemaiah warns Nehemiah that his enemies are sending men in the night to take his life. In order to prevent this, Shemaiah suggests that Nehemiah should hide within the safety of the temple. However, Nehemiah instantly sees two problems with this advice. First, Nehemiah realizes that if he were to do this it would appear that he was a coward who has lost his courage. The people would feel as though Nehemiah was acting, not for the good of the people, but to save himself. This, of course, would have a negative impact on his reputation as a leader. However, the biggest problem is that to go into the temple would be to commit a sin to save his skin. You see, Nehemiah is a layman and as such is not allowed to enter the temple sanctuary. In fact, when King Uzziah dared to do this he was struck with leprosy. Nehemiah recognizes that God would never send someone to his help who would advise him to do something contrary to God's word. So, given that fact that the suggested action was both illogical and unbiblical, Nehemiah wisely rejects the counsel. Here is a good bit of advice for us. When someone offers to help us, we need to evaluate if what they suggest is logical and biblically consistent. If it is we should consider it carefully. If it is not we should reject it immediately. We need to test the spirit of those who offer help to see if they are really for us or against us.

Opposition Doesn't Go Away Easily

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 6:1-10

Reflection: We see here the persistence of those who oppose the work of God. At first the opposition started with verbal abuse. When this did not work, they turned to the threat of physical violence. This also failed to stop the work. So now they try two additional methods. First, they seek to entrap Nehemiah through false invitations to talk reasonably when in reality they simply mean to bring harm upon Nehemiah. When Nehemiah refuses to take the bait...four times...they then seek fear mongering. This section of scripture reminds us that rarely do we face opposition, successfully deal with it, and then move on to success. Instead, those who oppose the work will not easily go away. They will work hard to defeat those who go about God's business. If those who are faithful to God are going to be successful, we must be as persistent and wise as Nehemiah. We must neither be naive nor weak. We are rather to plan wisely, work diligently, pray fervently, and stand strong. When we do this, God works in and through us to not only complete the work but to transform us as a people in the process.