In Case Of Non Compliance

Now the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and understanding, are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God’s law, which was given through Moses, God’s servant, and to keep and to observe all the commandments of God our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes;(NASB) Nehemiah 10:28,29

These are the terms of the covenant. The making of the covenant with God. There were others who had previously sealed the covenant. The rest of the people entered into the covenant too with a complete understanding of what they were doing. They placed themselves under a curse of the Lord their God, in case they failed to obey God’s laws and teachings that were given to them by God’s servant Moses. The curse was placed in case of non compliance on their part. It was used as a form of God’s correction, to bring them back to obedience. They bound their hearts together and with determination proclaimed they were going to serve, follow and keep God’s commandments which they read in His law. Even though they joined together publicly to make this covenant with God, it was actually between the individual and God. A public covenant meant accountability which was why it was important that others witnessed it.

They had placed something in their lives in case they did not obey God. The curse was what they were going to use to bring them back to obedience to the agreement they made with God. Accountability could be used as well to bring them back to obedience to God. What do we have in place in case of non compliance? We are accountable to God. Is there anyone else we are accountable to? Anyone who could be a form of God’s correction in our lives to bring us back to obedience? Someone who keeps us in check concerning our walk with God? Something to think about.

Brokenness

Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them. And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the Lord their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the Lord their God.(KJV) Nehemiah 9:1-3

The people of Israel wearing sackcloth and with dirt on them assembled for a fast. It would be an assembly of humble repentance. A repentant nation gathered to show their sorrow. The descendants of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their ancestors. They were troubled by their sin. Those who were the seed of Israel came forth to confess the sin of their nation. They realized and admitted they had missed God’s mark. Not only had they missed God’s mark but they came from from sinful ancestors. They remained standing in place for one quarter of the day while the Book of the Law of the Lord their God was read aloud to them. For another quarter they confessed and prostrated themselves before the Lord their God. They heard the Law read, standing. They prostrated themselves, and confessed their sins. They got up to praise God for having spared and dealt thus mercifully with them.

Their brokenness had led them to humbly come before God and hear His Word. They fasted, wore sackcloth and had dirt on themselves along with the reading of God’s Word for a fourth part of the day. Now for a fourth part of the day just worshiping God, praising God and worshiping God. This would not fly here! No way! Standing for a fourth part of a day, hearing the Word of God read and then for another fourth of a day just standing there worshiping God. Nope, will not happen. At least not until we get our priorities straight. Why do we get fidgety in Church after an hour but can sit through a two hour movie with no difficulty? Where is our brokenness? Where is our humility? Where are our priorities?

His Joy Our Strength

Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”(NASB) Nehemiah 8:9,10

The People started crying when God’s law was read to them. Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levities who taught the people told them this was a special day for the Lord their God. They were told not to be sad or cry. Nehemiah told them to share their food and drink with those who had none. Again, he told them not to be sad. This was a special day for the Lord. The Lord would make them happy and strong. All the people cried when the heard the words of the law. The were reading the Scriptures. As the Scriptures were explained the people came under conviction. They realized how far they had failed in keeping the Scripture. The Scripture brought conviction to their hearts. When they realized how they had failed God, they began to cry when they heard the Scriptures. But Nehemiah told them not to weep because this was the day they renewed the covenant with God. They were to rejoice because they were coming back to God. They were to share among one another. It was a time of restoration. The people felt sad because they were aware of their own sin. However, they could walk in joy because God was doing a great work.

When we hear the Word of God, we do not necessarily have to weep. However, it will rebuke and correct us. At times it hurts to be rebuked and corrected by the Scriptures. Tears can be the evidence of that pain. We should be sad and mourn from the convicting power of the Word of God in our lives. But we should also know God is doing a good work in our lives. When conviction takes place in our lives we can rejoice and know God is doing a work in us. How do we feel when we are made aware of our own sin? We should feel sadness for our sin but know that we can walk in joy because God is doing a great work in our lives. His joy is our strength and stronghold. Let His joy be our strength!

God Put Into My Heart

And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein(KJV) Nehemiah 7:5

God gave Nehemiah the idea to call together all the nobles and leaders. God put it into Nehemiah’s heart to gather together the nobles. God caused him to gather the nobles. Nehemiah acknowledged the idea to do what he did came from God. With Nehemiah every good thing was of God. If Nehemiah purposed any good, it was because God put it into his heart. In all of Nehemiah’s ways he acknowledged God, and God directed all of his steps. Whatever Nehemiah thought of that was favorable to the good of Jerusalem, Nehemiah always ascribed it to God.

We can learn a great deal from Nehemiah. Whatever good ideas are in our mind, do we acknowledge they come from God? Or do we take the credit for the ideas we get? It is just an idea. Does it really matter if we give God the credit? Possibly if it was some big, grand idea we can give God the credit but even the small ones? It is either all or nothing. In all of Nehemiah’s ways he acknowledged God. He was close enough to God to know God was the One who put the idea into his heart. He was smart enough to know God was the One who put the idea in his heart. He was humble enough to acknowledge God was the One who put the idea into his heart. Is this how we live our lives?

Watch And Be Sober

Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. (NKJV) 1 Thessalonians 5:6

Others may sleep, but we should stay awake and be alert. This was Paul’s exhortation to the Thessalonian Church. He wanted them to be awake, sober and watchful. He did not want them to be like other people who were sleeping. He wanted them to be on their guard and be clear headed. For them to keep their eyes open and be smart. Paul did not want the spiritual condition of the Thessalonians to be one of sleep. He wanted them active and aware not lax concerning spiritual things. Paul wanted them to live in anticipation of the Lord’s imminent return. He wanted them to be watching and to be ready. He wanted them to take heed for fear that through remission and laziness some destructive calamity suddenly overtake them. They were not only supposed to keep their spiritual eyes open but to be calm, collected and cautious. [ Sober doesn’t mean humorless. It has in mind someone who knows the proper value of things, and therefore doesn’t get too excited about the things of this world. The person who lives their life for fun and entertainment isn’t sober. In commanding sobriety, Paul didn’t have in mind the sort of people who stamp down all enthusiasm and excitement for Jesus, promoting what they think is a more balanced way to live. Paul himself was an enthusiastic follower of Jesus, and accused of religious fanaticism] Guzik

Today, if we believe the Lord is watching us and there is another place to prepare for, we shall see reason to watch and be sober. True and fervent Love for the Lord as well as love for the things of God will keep us watchful and sober. This verse might be one many of us like to skip over. Watchful is okay but to be sober might not go over to well with many of us. We should not get too excited about the things of this world. We should not live our life for fun and entertainment. Does this describe the body of Christ? What no fun and entertainment? Do not get excited about the things of this world? As the U.S. body of Christ, we seem to go a tad overboard in the fun and entertainment department. If we spent as much money on missions, our giving at Church, spiritual things as we do on fun and entertainment in our personal lives and at church, do we know what we could accomplish for the cause of Christ? What would happen if we tried to live a bit more soberly like Paul exhorts us to? Are we alert and sober? Or have we been lulled to sleep by all the fun and entertainment? Is fun and entertainment wrong? No, but what are we truly living our life for?

If You Know What’s Good For You

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous will walk in them, but transgressors will stumble in them. (NASB) Hosea 14:9

Let him understand what things? The things which related to the backsliding, sin and punishment of Israel. As well as to the mercy and goodness of the Lord in Israel’s promised restoration. Understand the things which belong to the work of sin in the heart, work of grace in the soul and especially the things mentioned earlier in this chapter. If they wanted to live well, make sure they understood this. A wise person would know these things, and an understanding person would take them to heart. If they were wise, they would know and understand what the Lord meant. The wise man would see the message. He would understand that in God’s mercy, He offered an extraordinary opportunity for repentance and restoration. An invitation which would be dangerous and unwise for Israel to disregard.

For the ways of Adonai are straight, and the righteous walk in them, but in them sinners stumble. The Lord would lead Israel along the right path. If they would obey Him, they would walk together, but if they were wicked, they would stumble. Hosea’ conclusion was the Lord’s ways were right. Good people lived by following His ways, but those who turned against the Lord died because of them. However good Israel might have been before, if they did not consider the necessity of dependence on God, maintaining an obedient conduct and respect to all of the Lord’s commands, they would fall. These were instructions Israel needed to live by, we need to live by. In conclusion, this is what the Message Bible says: If you want to live well, make sure you understand all of this. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll learn this inside and out. God’s paths get you where you want to go. Right-living people walk them easily; wrong-living people are always tripping and stumbling. Reader, take these words to heart.

In Him Is Our Help

O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help. I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?(KJV) Hosea 13:9,10

God told Israel they had destroyed themselves. He wanted them to face the responsibility for their own actions. They were responsible themselves for what they were. He did not want them to blame anyone else for what they were. They were going to have to answer to God for what they had done. They wanted to place the blame elsewhere than on themselves. God told them they destroyed themselves. Even when Israel felt the sting of the disciplined hand of God, they could still find help from the Lord. Help from the Lord, if Israel would only turn to Him. Even though Israel had made a mess of things, yet God still stood by ready to help them. He told them He would be their king. He wanted them to turn their lives over to Him. For them to turn their lives over to His lordship. God wanted to be recognized as the King no matter what man sat on the throne. He told them there was no one else that could save them. He told them to turn their lives over to Him, to let Him make their lives what He would have them to be. God was the only hope of Israel.

God still wants us to face responsibility for our own actions. Do not blame anyone else for what we are. We are good at placing or shifting the blame onto others instead of taking responsibility for own actions. The good thing is, even though we make a mess of things, God still stands by ready to help us. In Him is our help. Possibly we have made a mess of our lives, thinking there is no way God could accept us after what we have done. We think we have to clean up our act, straighten out the mess we made before God will accept us. Totally not true! There is no one else who can save us but Him. We can turn our lives over to Him and let Him make our life what He would have it to be. Do it today! In Him is our help!

Come Back

The Lord also has a dispute with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; He will repay him according to his deeds. In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his maturity he contended with God. Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed; He wept and sought His favor. He found Him at Bethel and there He spoke with us, even the Lord , the God of hosts, The Lord is His name. Therefore, return to your God, observe kindness and justice, and wait for your God continually.(NASB) Hosea 12:2-6

Jacob was used as an example of Israel’s present deceit. Jacob achieved his goals through crafty and dishonest means. God explained that was Jacob then, and it was Israel now. Jacob was brought to a place of helplessness. God brought Jacob to the end of himself, to the end of his resources, to the end of his schemes, and to the end of his cleverness. He cut off every avenue where there was no place left for Jacob to go. Jacob realized his helplessness. He cried out to God in desperation. Jacob’s victory came from his defeat as he wept and begged, was brought to the end of himself that he might be governed by God. Jacob came to the place where he knew the Lord had beaten him and all that was left to do was hang on to the Lord and seek Him for a blessing. Israel was instructed to return to the Lord the same way Jacob had. They were to hold fast to His grace and justice, and always put their hope in God.

Did we serve the Lord at one time but now have went our own way? Are we like Jacob of old? Do we achieve our goals through scheming and dishonest means? Do we go behind other people’s back in order to deceive and trick them? Is our life all about deceit? Well, it does not have to be. Nothing we have done, absolutely nothing can keep us from returning to the Lord. Do not let the enemy of our soul tell us differently. This example of Jacob was not given to condemn us. It was given to show us we can return to the Lord the same way Jacob did. So return to the Lord, love Him, do what is just, and always trust in Him as your God. Come back to Him and always depend on Him.

Keep On, Keepin’ On

Therefore, just as you received the Messiah Yeshua as Lord, keep living your life united with him.(Complete Jewish Bible) Colssians 2:6

Paul told the Colossians as they received Christ as Lord, they were to walk, regulate their lives and conduct themselves in union and conformity to Him. They had accepted Christ as Lord. Paul told them to keep following Him. They received Christ the Lord, so continue to live in Him. Paul’s counsel for them was simple and straightforward. He wanted them to go ahead with what they had been given. They received Messiah Yeshua as Lord, now live Him. Keep on, continue to live for Him, this was Paul’s message to them. They were not to stop once they received Christ as Lord. They had embraced Christ and now they were to continue to hold fast to Him, and not permit themselves to be turned aside by anything. They were to put into practice the life of Christ in their walk.

Once we have received Christ as Lord, we are not to stop there. Many feel they can receive Christ, now they have their “fire insurance”(safe from Hell), and then they can go on living whatever way they want. They accepted Christ that is all they need to do. Right?! We know this is not true but how many of us know people who live like this? It is sad but oh so true. Receiving Christ is not where the salvation experience ends and we are finished! No, this is where it begins! We must continue daily, we must keep on, keepin’ on for Messiah Yeshua. We must keep on, keepin’ on walking in obedience and humility for Him. We came and received Christ as Lord in obedience and humility, so we must continue to daily live for Him this way as well. As believers in Christ, the encouragement is to continue to live for Him daily. Have never received Christ as Lord? The encouragement for those are to receive Messiah Yeshua as Lord(Jesus Christ) today. Do not wait! He loves you! He died for you! Receive Him now!

What Is Being Reported About You?

Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints. (KJV) Colossians 1:4

Paul heard of the Colossians faith in Christ and their love for all of God’s people. The Amplified describes in greater detail what Paul heard about them. For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [the leaning of your entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness] and of the love which you [have and show] for all the saints (God’s consecrated ones). Paul kept getting reports on their steady faith in Christ and the love they continually extended to all God’s people. Why did Paul hear about the Colossians faith in Christ and their love for all of God’s people? They made no secret of their faith in Christ and their love for all the saints. They did not keep it to themselves. They declared, confessed and announced it to others. With true faith in Christ comes love for all the saints. They truly lived the Christian life and this was what Paul heard about them.

What would people hear about us? What reports would Paul be getting on us? Is our faith in Christ a secret to those around us? Do we keep it to ourselves? Are we ashamed to declare, confess and announce our faith in Christ to others? Trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness along with not only having but showing love for all the saints are the characteristics that mark a believer. Are we displaying these? Is this what people are hearing about us, our faith in Christ and our love for all of God’s people? Is this what is being reported?