- …and said to them, “We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!” They were silent and could not find a word to say. Nehemiah 5:8 – Let us not place back in slavery those who God has set free. Here we have God’s people rescuing their Jewish brothers from slavery in other nations. Yet once back home, due to a famine, they had to rely on their brothers for help. These very brothers took advantage of them and held them in slavery like what they were just rescued from. If we aren’t careful, we too can hold our brothers and sisters in Christ in slavery. While they’ve been freed by Jesus, the way we treat them and talk about them can hold them captive to worry, fear, and discouragement. We must not be a part of the enslavement of our brothers but we should be the biggest advocates of their freedom. Watch then your words and deeds. Do they encourage their freedom or push them back into the jail cell that Jesus freed them from? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1287
- Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. 18 Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people. Nehemiah 5:17-18 – We learn from this passage that the leaders, unbeknownst to Nehemiah, were extracting interest from their Jewish brothers and causing them to fall into great poverty. The Jewish people didn’t have food for their families and their children were being sold into slavery again because of the sinful ways the leaders were treating them. Nehemiah doesn’t only put a stop to this, but also sets an example of how to handle things correctly as a leader. Instead of taking from the people, Nehemiah gave out of his own pocket to provide food and refreshment. As followers of Jesus we may see around us people, including leaders, handling themselves in unholy ways. We can either mirror such actions or choose to set a different example of how to live. One of showing love and compassion, rather than selfishness and pride. Yes, the holy way of living will be challenging and may take a lot from you, but it is the way a believer in Jesus is called to exist. Have faith that as you exist in such a way for the Lord that He will provide for your needs that arise. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2508
Daily DEVO 