KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus
Through Every Chapter
Date: Saturday,
May 21, 2016
Chapters: Nehemiah 5-7
Message: The Price Of Freedom

Hello
My Friend,

Communism,
a system of social organization in which all
economic and social activity is controlled by
one political leader. The idea of the government taking care of our
well being sounds ideal, but when you factor in the costs of our
freedom by taking their free food, money, and healthcare, it comes
with a great price. Think about it, a government that decides what
you get to eat, wear, live, how much money you are allowed to have,
and even who gets to live or die. This is how communism starts, they
entice those who are vulnerable or lazy with the idea that they are
getting something free, and once they get you they own you. “For
when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through
the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were
clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them
liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom
a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” -
2 Peter 2:18,19.

I have never been a fan of receiving
things from the government, especially if they tell me it is free.
There are these people that stand outside shopping centers enticing
people who are on welfare already to sign up for a free government
cell phone. Free, nothing is free, someone has to pay for them to
receive those free phones, and it is always the hard working people
who do work that do. People are so eager to take whatever they can
get for free, but have no idea that it will one day cost them their
freedom. History proves that there are are always consequences when a
corrupt government gets control of the people’s well being. When
Nehemiah came into Jerusalem he was saddened by the state of the
remnants there, they not only forgot God, they foolishly accepted
loans and bribes for help and now they are in dire straights, having
sold everything they had to pay them back. They came to Nehemiah for
help, he upbraids them for selling off their inheritance, tells them
to return what they bought back to the owners, and gives a testimony
on why he never received anything free from the government.


“Moreover from the time that I
was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the
twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the
king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the
bread of the governor. But the former governors that had been before
me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and
wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare
rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any
land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and
rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that
are about us. Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and
six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten
days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the
bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this
people. Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have
done for this people.” - Nehemiah 5:14-19.

“because
the bondage was heavy upon this people.” The previous
governors instilled such harsh penalties on the people that they were
in bondage to them. Nothing Is Free! Freedom is not free, everything
we have that is given to us was already bought by someone else.
Sadly, we are in a society that people do not care about the well
being of others, only themselves, what they can get without having to
work, they will sell themselves out before doing a little hard work
to get the things they need. God will take care of His people, but He
will not take care of those who forsake Him. If they forsake Him for
the things of the world, they have only themselves to blame for the
consequences.

“And even as they
did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to
a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being
filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness,
covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit,
malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud,
boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without
understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection,
implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they
which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same,
but have pleasure in them that do them.” - Romans
1:28-32.

A corrupt government is great
at trying to entice people to trust them for their well being so they
can take control, but what do they do to those who seek their own
provisions? They taunt and bribe them in an attempt to stop them from
being independent from them. As Nehemiah and the people continued
building the wall around Jerusalem they got all sorts of opposition
from the government to try and stop them. First, they wanted to help,
when that did not work they resorted to distractions, and
when that did not work, lying.

“Now
it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian,
and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and
that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not
set up the doors upon the gates;) That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto
me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in
the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. And I sent
messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I
cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and
come down to you? Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort;
and I answered them after the same manner. Then sent Sanballat his
servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in
his hand; Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and
Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which
cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king,
according to these words. Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no
such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine
own heart. For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be
weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God,
strengthen my hands.” - Nehemiah 6:1-6,8,9.

“There
are no such things done as thou sayest,” Sanballat sent
false prophets to try and get Nehemiah to stop, but he knew it was a
lie. No matter who we are, corrupt leaders are always trying to
entice us to stop doing what is right and follow them. God will never
tell us to do something that goes against Scripture. That awesome job
that includes wearing provocative clothes is not so awesome when it
resorts in uncontrollable people that have no respect for others
bodies. That awesome payout for gambling is not so awesome when it
resorts in uncontrollable debt. That awesome one night stand is not
so awesome when it resorts in unwanted pregnancy or an incurable
disease. Corrupt leadership comes from a corrupt world electing them,
the world likes to make us think that they have our best interests in
mind, and that God even plays a part in it, but it is all lies. “For
what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose
himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of
my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come
in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. But I
tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not
taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.” -
Luke 9:25-27.

Now that the walls surrounding Jerusalem
were repaired, there was still much work to be done. The city was
huge, but very few people lived in it because it needed much repair.
Through God’s directions, Nehemiah came up with a plan to rebuild
the city with fellow Jews. Armed guards stood at the only entrance
into the city, the gates were open during the day, but once they were
closed no one was allowed to go through unless their names were found
written in the register book. The register book was the Israelites
only documentation that they were true Israelites that came from
Babylon, anyone not found written in the book was denied entrance.


“Now the city was large and
great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not
builded. And my God put into mine heart to gather together the
nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned
by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which
came up at the first, and found written therein, These are the
children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those
that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon
had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one
unto his city; The whole congregation together was forty and two
thousand three hundred and threescore, Beside their manservants and
their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred
thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men
and singing women.” - Nehemiah 7:4-6,66,67.

“that
they might be reckoned by genealogy.” Genealogy is more than
just the family we came from through birth to God, it is those who
are His. The same way in which a person can enter the gate in
Jerusalem, is the same way a person can enter the Kingdom of God, and
become part of His family. Our names must be written in the register,
and that register is named the Book of life. Anyone’s name not
written in the Book of life will be denied entry and cast into hell,
and the lake of fire. “And I saw the dead,
small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and
another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were
judged out of those things which were written in the books, according
to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and
death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they
were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell
were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And
whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the
lake of fire.” - Revelation 20:12-15.

Jesus
Christ Revealed: Today, Jesus is revealed through
Nehemiah, who would not stop the will of God. Jesus, came here to do
the will of His Father, and let nothing stop Him from going to the
cross so we can be free. “Father, if thou
be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but
thine, be done.” - Luke 22:42b.

Today's
Prayer: God, Thank You for setting those free from the
bondage of their sin who are trusting in Your Son, who paid the price
of His life on the cross to save us. I understand that there are some
things that You allow me to go through so that I can learn from my
mistakes and be an example to others, but I truly want to live my
life the way You want me to. Lord, keep my eyes, ears, and heart on
You, and help me to let go of hindrances that keep me from completing
the work You have given me to do. Help me to be aware of the dangers
and to listen for the truths You tell me. Let me be discerning, kind
to others, yet not follow their understanding, but Yours. I ask these
things in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying
for you,
Christina

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