- And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt. Nehemiah 10:31 – The people of God were in this chapter committing to God to live for Him. That meant though living differently than they had been and differently than how those who don’t follow God live. We see that here with our verse. No longer were they going to buy grain on the Sabbath. They used to, and everyone else still would be doing it, but they were choosing not to. This is the life we choose when following Jesus. To set aside things we used to do that aren’t pleasing to God, even when others around us continue to do them. What this does is it shows you love God enough to let go of the things that don’t please Him and it also causes you to stand out amongst the crowd. For you today, especially if this type of message is one you’ve heard before, ask yourself what could cause you to still do those things even when you know it doesn’t please God and it will cause you to blend in rather than stand out? – Daily DEVO 1292
- The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, 29 join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God’s Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord and his rules and his statutes. Nehemiah 10:28-29 – The nobles, the men who in verses 1-27 had their names on the seals, were the first to set the example of choosing to separate themselves from sinful ways of living and choosing to live under God’s law once again. Now the rest of the people, all who had separated themselves so far to follow the law of God, were also being told to enter a promise with the Lord to never turn away from Him again and to follow Him the rest of their days. Once again in this passage we see an instance of individuals seeing the need for the whole congregation to make a healthy move, and instead of waiting for someone else to take the first step, they themselves step up first. If then in your family or workplace or church family you see the need for a healthy move to take place, be willing to be first in that move. Take the first step, be the first to apologize, be the first to stop a way of behaving, be the first to say something. Often others will follow and support a move towards health, but what it needed is someone to simply be bold and take that first step. Today, as scary as that may seem for you, be willing to be first. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2513
Daily DEVO 