Consider Your Way This Day
After the exile to Babylon, the people of God suffered, as did the city of Jerusalem. Its walls breached and its gates burned; Jerusalem offered little protection and hope to the struggling remnant surviving in the land. Nehemiah heard these things from his brother Hanani, and the news moved him to tears. He entered a period of mourning with fasting and prayer that lasted several days. At the end of that time, he prayed a prayer recorded for us to read in which he confessed the sins of the people of God, including himself. And he didn’t go into a long litany of sins, nor was he very particular in offering specifics. He simply stated the fact that they sinned against God, acted wickedly toward Him, and did not obey His commands, decrees, and laws. He then pointed to the words God had spoken to Moses as a promise to return the people to the place He had chosen as a dwelling for His Name, speaking in faith that, as he turned to God and repented, he acted believing God would deliver on His promise. He ended by asking God to grant him compassion from the king whom he served as cupbearer. It is all recorded, along with the outcome of Nehemiah’s efforts, aided by God’s guidance and provision.
When you see the state of God’s people this day, are you moved to tears? Do you see how we, though God intended we remain united, stand divided and scattered throughout the world? Do you see how we have become so indifferent to the will of God that no proper division stands between Christianity and the world except one of judgment and condemnation? Do you see how many people perish for lack of knowledge and wisdom, and many sheep stray for want of faithful servants to guide them into the good and holy Way? Do you see how many leaders lack understanding of spiritual matters beyond the lessons taught them in seminary and repeated over and over from Sunday to Sunday, year after year? Do you see how powerless we’ve grown? Child, what do you see?
Do you race after the things the world pursues? Is it not time to rebuild the House of the Lord? Is it a time for you to build up your own dwellings, but to leave the Lord’s dwelling place in ruins? Where is the Lord’s habitation? Know you not that Christ is in you, O citizen and heir? And if Christ is in you, that you may dwell in the New Jerusalem, what must we do about the breach and the gates of the city of our God? Do you not know? Have you not read?
If you do what is right, pleasing, acceptable, and beautiful, will you not arise? Read the words of the Lord to His people. See for yourselves what He says. You who trample the needy, do away with the poor of the land, and exchange their lives for profit and inexpensive coverings for your feet. See, the wages you have not paid the workers cries out against you! The cry of the harvesters reaches beyond your ears. He created us to stand in the breach and restore the Way of living. When He searches the land, will He find you ready and able to answer? Will you overcome, escape, and stand ready by and before the Lord? How will you if not by the blood of the lamb, the word of your testimony, and your refusal to shy away from death?
Did Jesus pay it all? Yes. Has He won the victory? Yes. But it is also written that they overcame him by the blood of Christ, the word of their testimony, and their refusal to shy away from death. We each have a part to play in the battle of good against evil. He has plans for you. Are you living them out? Do you seek His will? Do you acknowledge Him as Lord of your life? Be certain you know where you stand in His presence or outside of it.
God bless you as you seek His will for your life this day.