Today’s Reading Nehemiah 8-9
Focal Scripture: Nehemiah 9:3 “While they stood in their places, they read from the book of the law of the Lord their God for a fourth of the day and spent another fourth of the day in confession and worship of the Lord their God.”
How important is the word of the Lord to you? Here we see how Nehemiah and the people began to view Gods word with respect and with passion. The last few chapters demonstrates that when Gods people get serious about him lives and nations change.
The study of the word took up hours of their time. The study of the word led to confession and worship to the Lord. This is what revival looks like. The word takes precedence and then it reveals what must change in people’s lives.
This should be a sobering thought and challenge for all of us. Too often the study of Gods word is regulated to a devotion or as not important enough to go deeper. This attitude even comes from leaders of churches. Recently I had a conversation with someone and they believed that the teaching should be shallow for everyone to grasp. They stated the cookies should be on the bottom shelf.
Yes, the teaching should not be so deep that nobody can understand. However, shallow teaching leads to shallow ministries. Everyone is a theologian and comes to viewpoints of scripture and doctrine. It is the job of the preacher to take the deep truths and open them up for everyone to enjoy.
Nehemiah demonstrates this truth for all of us in our daily lives and our corporate lives. Be weary of pastors/teachers who don’t want to lead people deeper. I have learned over the years it is because their theology is often shallow and lacking.
This may sound like a harsh reflection. Unfortunately, it is a reality in our world. Let me pose this question to you. Has anyone ever regretted going deeper into theology and study? The answer is no. I have heard many people regret not taking more time to know the God that our Bible explains.
I challenge you today to become a person of the book. I also challenge you to attend a place of worship that makes the Bible the priority. After all if you want to know God you have to read and study who he is from the book.
The standard has been set in scripture. Nehemiah put it into action. Be a person who loves the book because it will help you fall more in love with the Lord.
Tomorrow I plan on reading Nehemiah 10-11
