Nehemiah – Chapter 10

For the people of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of grain, wine, and oil to the chambers, where the vessels of the sanctuary are, as well as the priests who minister, and the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not neglect the house of our God. Nehemiah 10:39 – God’s people in Nehemiah’s day decided to make an oath to the Lord. They were choosing to step into a covenant relationship with God again. This meant the things that God said not to do, they would stop doing, and the things God said to do, they would do. This also meant that all the aspects of the work of the Temple would become a priority again to the people. Whether it was donating wood for the altars to oil for the lamps or even money to support those who dedicated their lives to the Temple work, they were no longer going to neglect the house of their God anymore. That line at the end of the chapter is so wonderful, “We will not neglect the house of our God.” I pray this is at the heart of the church today, that their desire is to not see the house of the Lord neglected today. What then could that practically look like for us today. Understand what, or who, is the house of God today. We, the people of the church, are the house of God for His Spirit dwells within us. How then can we not neglect the house of the Lord today? Prioritize it’s health. Make sure you are staying spiritually healthy by being in the Word and being with other believers. Make sure your church family is healthy by pushing for reconciliations and serving them with your giftings. There is no longer a Temple building we’re trying to maintain, the Temple is now us the people of the Church. As dedicated as the people were in Nehemiah’s day to the upkeep and longevity of the Temple, let’s be dedicate to the long life and health of the house of the Lord today. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3407

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, ²⁹join 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