Hello My Friend./Guest,

Today is Thursday June 11, 2009 and we are completing our studies on the book of Nehemiah. Please read chapters 11-13 in your Bible or Click Here to read them online. https://www.allonlinebible.com/Nehemiah/11,1-13,last/11.html

Today’s Message: Ignorant to God’s Word
To resist worldly influence calls for tough decisions to be made in order to remain faithful to God's Word. We must not make the mistake of being ignorant to His Word in order to compromise with the world or obtain the things that we desire.

After the walls of Jerusalem were completed, Nehemiah went back home to Babylon, only a few people lived inside the city. Most of the Jews lived in nearby suburbs so they could grow crops, pasture their animals, and make a living more easily. Because of this, there were not enough people living in the city to help maintain security and to protect it. “And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities. And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.” - Nehemiah 11:1-2. Do you see how this can be disastrous? The people were more focused on providing for themselves that they were on keeping God’s city growing. It’s very important that we set aside our own needs in order to help God’s community grow. God will always provide us with the things we are in need of and even many of the things we really do not need, but we must be willing to put God first.

Upon arriving back in Jerusalem, Nehemiah finds the people once again ignoring the Word of God and returning to sinful practices. He discovered the Levites working in the fields instead of serving in the Temple. The tithes that were designated to support the Levites remained in the people's hands, the House of God was forsaken, and the Sabbath day was desecrated by the majority.

Eliashib, the high priest, who had been a co-worker with Nehemiah in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, even went so far as to prepare Tobiah a place to live the courts of the House of God. Eliashib associated with Tobiah, the Ammonite, probably because of a marriage relationship even though Tobiah had been one of the enemies who had tried to stop Nehemiah from completing the walls years earlier. “On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.” - Nehemiah 13:1-5. Do you see where the people erred? They erred because they did not stay in God’s Word, had they read it daily he would have known the stay away from the Ammonite’s and Moabite’s, this would have saved them a lot of grief from marrying the wrong people.

Nehemiah again took a firm stand for the Word of God and would not consent to their compromising attitude toward sin. He would not tolerate dishonoring the Sabbath day or intermarriage of idol worshipers with Israelites. His reforms were resisted by an influential group of Israelites whose children had intermarried with Moabites or Ammonites, but he did not back down. “Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business; And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.” - Nehemiah 13:29-31. Like Nehemiah we too can make a difference in our world, but in order to do that we must not forget our Creator. All of His instructions or commands are given for a reason and that reason is not to deny us things, but to keep us from living a long, suffering life by making a huge mistake.

Too often Christians compromise with the world because they lack knowledge of the Scriptures, they excuse disloyalty to God by saying they don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. But where there is obvious opposition to what is clearly stated in God's Word, we must take a positive stand for Christ. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” - Galatians 5:1

Today’s Psalm:119:161
“Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.”

Today’s Prayer:
Dear God,
We give thanks to You that we can walk in victory because of Your Son Jesus Christ. Once we were held captive by sin and its enslavement, but we have been set free through the redemptive work of Jesus and His glorious resurrection. Each day brings new challenges, but we overcome them through the blood of the Lamb. Help us to stand firm in our faith and immovable in Your truths, as we daily serve You. We are encouraged to know that nothing we do for You is in vain though we may not see immediate results. Keep us obedient and trusting. In Jesus’ Name………Amen.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night.
God Bless,
Christina

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