The Difference of a Day

“The just shall live by faith.”  Romans 1:17

Some days make a big difference.  On July 4, 1776, American colonists stood against tyranny and for independence.   On June 6, 1944, Allied troops stood against tyranny and for freedom.  And on October 31, 1517, Martin Luther stood against tyranny and for truth.

Luther was a German monk and priest (and professor of theology) who through his own study of Scripture and spiritual struggles realized that several teachings and practices of his Catholic church were not Biblical.  On October 31, 1517, Luther wrote a letter to his bishop protesting one of the Church’s greatest offenses—the abuse of indulgences.  Indulgences were “supposed forgiveness” which could be bought as penance for one’s own sins or for the sins of loved ones suffering punishment in purgatory.  “As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs” was the famous buy-line of indulgence sellers whose profits funded the building of St. Peter’s cathedral and padded the pockets of church officials.  Luther’s letter contained 95 points of dispute centered on two principles of truth—the Bible is our spiritual authority  and people are saved from an eternity without God by their faith and not their deeds.

Luther also posted his list of grievances on the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, Germany, as an invitation to fellow scholars to debate and discuss the issues, but such an event never took place because Luther’s 95 Theses were soon translated from Latin into German, widely distributed, and the uproar had begun.

The spiritual and cultural reformation resulting from this stand for truth changed the course of the world history and shaped where and how we live today.  In reality, neither July 4, 1776, nor June 6, 1944, would have happened if a brave German monk hadn’t picked up his quill—and then his hammer.

A raging fire starts with a spark.

May the truth of God’s grace blaze brightly in our lives and make a big difference today.

 

First Response

“Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  Nehemiah 8:10

What do you do with what you’ve heard?  When, by sight or sound, God’s Word comes your way, what do you with it?  What is your response to His revelation?

When the Jews around Jerusalem heard God’s Word, the first thing they did was start crying.  “Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, ‘Do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law”(Neh 8:9).  Their grief was great because they realized God’s holiness and their own helplessness.  This attitude of humility and brokenness was beautiful, and their repentant hearts led Nehemiah to offer calm and comfort.  “Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength”(Neh 8:10). 

But God’s people didn’t stop at simply acknowledging their failures and enjoying God’s forgiveness, they took the next step and complied with God’s commands.  When the leaders gathered the next day “to give attention to the words of the Law”(vs 13), they discovered that God had established a week-long campout to commemorate His faithfulness during their ancestors’ exodus from Egypt and journey to the Promised Land.  So Nehemiah and company spread the word, and everyone gathered branches and built huts to stay in for the seven days.  All around town, on roofs, in courtyards, by the temple, and in the city’s squares, “the whole company that had returned from exile built booths and lived in them”(Neh 8:17).

As crazy as it sounds, instead of causing them frustration or irritation, this obedience to God’s Word triggered great celebration.  “From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated like this.  And their joy was very great”(Neh 8:17).  Even when we don’t fully understand the why’s of God’s commands, obedience to His Word will bring blessing—the blessing of joy, the blessing of peace, and the blessing of celebration.

God does not speak to hear His own voice.  He speaks so that we will listen to His Word and then live it out.  Don’t ignore the conversation.  With a humble heart, let His Word bring you to tears, calm your fears, call you to obey, and cause you to celebrate.   

Listen to God’s Word, and let it break you.

Obey God’s Word, and let Him bless you.

And celebrate with great joy.

 

The Gift of God's Word

“On the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly…He read it aloud from daybreak till noon.” Nehemiah 8:2-3

This morning my “regular” Bible which normally sits on the dresser by my bed wasn’t there, so I reached for my study Bible on the table.  I could have gone to the car and found a compact Scripture in the glove box. Or I could have walked to the bookshelf and retrieved several different Bibles in several different versions.  And, if for some bizarre reason all my printed books happened to have disappeared, I could have read the holy script in electronic form on various devices belonging to my family. 

Most likely your home is a lot like mine—well-stocked with God’s Word.  But though God’s Word is readily accessible, is it rightly appreciated?  Do we love it, long for it, listen to it, and are we willing to do whatever it takes to have it and hear it?

 “On the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly…He read it aloud from daybreak till noon”(Neh 8:2-3).  The people of Israel didn’t have scrolls of Scripture at their disposal.  They couldn’t read God’s Word whenever they wanted. The only way to have God’s Word in their homes was to hide it in their hearts, so “all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law”(Neh 8:3).

When Ezra opened the book, they rose to their feet in respect and then bowed down in worship.  Hour after hour after hour, from the time it got light until lunch, men, women, and all the kids able to understand stood up and soaked in God’s Word.  Hearing God’s Law (remember they only had the first five books) was a gift—a present they relished.  With eager excitement, they opened their ears and their hearts to what God said.

The same approach would be wise for us.  We don’t have to wait for a certain day to hear God’s Word—it’s close by any time we wish.  We aren’t asked to stand in the sun for hours to listen—we can read in climate-controlled comfort.  So let’s not let the ease of access and the luxury in which we listen lessen our appreciation and intensity for God’s Word.  With eager excitement, may we open our ears and heart to what God says each day.

God’s Word is a gift. 

Open, listen, and enjoy.  Often.

My God

“So my God put it into my heart to assemble the people.”  Nehemiah 7:5

Is God your God?

I’m not asking if you belong to Him—for if you have received by faith His gift of grace in Christ, then you are truly His.  No, I’m asking if He is yours.  In Scripture you’re assured that you are the apple of His eye, His chosen child, and His treasured possession, but is He yours?  Is God your God?

Ten times in Nehemiah’s story, he refers to the Almighty as “My God.”  Nehemiah’s relationship with God was personal, passionate, and possessive.  Yes, the Lord is the great, mighty, and awesome God(Neh 9:32), the God of heaven(Neh 1:4), and the God who is from everlasting to everlasting(Neh 9:5), and yet, again and again, Nehemiah calls this God, “My God.” 

He wants to be your God too.  Though you can never own Him, He can be your own, and He desires to be your delight and joy.  Forty-one times in scriptures God says, “I am the Lord your God.”  Your relationship with Him should be personal, passionate, and possessive—an intimate connection that can never be fully described but only experienced.  “My God.” 

Those two words have made me smile all day.  By God’s unfailing love and unending grace, I belong to Him, and He belongs to me.  He is “My God.”  An old Scottish hymn says it best:

I’ve found a Friend, O such a friend! He loved me ere I knew Him;

He drew me with the cords of love, and thus He bound me to Him;

And round my heart still closely twine those ties which naught can sever,

For I am His, and He is mine, forever and forever.

Enjoy your God today.

And know that He is yours always.

 

 

Two Truths and No Lie

“I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah, the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do.” Nehemiah 7:2

Ever played the game Two Truths and A Lie?  It’s a quick and fun way to get to know people in a group.  You describe yourself by telling two things which are true and one which is not, and the others must guess the lie.  For example, I might say that I got my first speeding ticket six months ago, I got lost in Rio, and I made my first B in college in piano lessons.  Or my husband might say that he can ride a unicycle, has starred in a British movie, and his favorite color is green. 

Determining which are true and which is false is all the fun, but Nehemiah wasn’t playing games when he described his friend, Hananiah, whom he put in charge of Jerusalem—and he only gave two truths and not the lie.  After the wall around town was complete and the gates were set in place, someone needed enforce the city security schedule.  “I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah, the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do”(Neh. 7:2).

Truth #1—Hananiah was a man of integrity.  He told the truth.  He lived the truth.  He couldn’t be bribed or bought, and he would not say or do something that wasn’t right even if it brought him power, popularity, or pleasure.

Truth #2—Hananiah feared God more than most.  His reason for doing what was right was not simply his own reputation but his relationship with God.  Hananiah lived each day in awe, astonishment, reverence, honor, and respect for God.  More than most people around him, Hananiah recognized God’s power, realized God’s holiness, and had a healthy fear of his amazing, gracious, and loving God. 

No wonder Nehemiah chose Hananiah to be in charge!  He was honest in word and deed, and he honored God highly each day.

May those two truths describe us as well.

And never be a lie.

 

(Btw, just in case you’re wondering, I’ve actually never gotten a speeding ticket, and my husband’s favorite color is orange.)

 

Done!

“So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.”  Nehemiah 6:15

On the right side of my desk rests a strip of paper blaring this challenge:  “Attempt something so big for God that unless He is in it, it is bound to fail.”  Each time I sit to write, those words stare me down and make me think—and pray.  The friend who passed out that phrase at a teaching seminar two years ago took his own advice and is spending his retirement going undercover to equip the underground church.   Sometimes we need to remember that though life mainly consists of the little, we shouldn’t be afraid to attempt the large. 

“So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days”(Neh 6:15).  In less than two months, Jerusalem’s wall had risen from piles of rubble to full height.  The building project which for years had seemed impossible was now a finished reality.  Without divine help it would never have been done—and everybody knew it.  “When our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God”(Neh 6:16).

“Attempt something so big for God that unless He is in it, it is bound to fail.”   This is not a call to reckless folly, but an encouragement to obey when God’s bidding seems absurd.  “Pack up the wife and hit the road.  I’ll let you know your destination later.”  That would be Abraham.  “Go get my million people from slavery in Egypt and lead them to a new land.”  That would be Moses.  “March around Jericho for seven days.  Shout, and watch the walls fall.” That would be Joshua.  “Some stones and a sling. What else could one possibly need to fight a fierce 9-foot giant?”  That would be David.  “Five thousand men and only enough food for a good McFish?  Lunch is served.”  That would be Jesus.  And hopefully you can soon add your own story—the story of a time when you took a risk on some ruins and God helped you build a wall.

 Don’t be daunted by what others say cannot be done; give it a go, and watch God go!

“Nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)

 

 

 

Helping Hands

“Now strengthen my hands.”  Nehemiah 10:9

Sometimes our hands get tired.

I remember the feeling in my fingers after a full day of pruning peach trees or picking ripe fruit.  During those busy times of carrying buckets or clipping branches my hands would ache and feel weary, but often in life it’s fear not fatigue that drains the strength from our grip.

When Jerusalem’s wall had risen to its halfway height, the opposition launched a full-fledged campaign of fear.   Four times they tried to get Nehemiah to attend a private meeting where they had more in mind than simple chat, but his RSVP simply said, “I’m busy.”  To their fifth invitation, which included false accusations of conspiracy and revolt, Nehemiah quickly replied, “You’re crazy!”  And he kept on working, well aware of the enemy’s tactics.  ”They were trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be complete’”(Neh 6:9).

Knowing that anxiety would make him unable to reach his full potential, Nehemiah prayed an earnest and honest prayer, “Now strengthen my hands”(Neh 10:9). We should often repeat his request, for fear frequently paralyzes our own progress and causes our hands to hang limp at our sides.  Think about the things we’re building right now—our marriage, our kids, our friendships, our relationship with God, our job responsibilities, the organizations and opportunities we’re involved in—so many projects that need to progress, yet our fears of incompetence, criticism, and failure keep us from being busy and bold.

Scared hearts result in shaky hands, and we sometimes stop half-way.  But we should not, for when we need supernatural strength, our God delights to supply.  “So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my righteous right hand”(Isaiah 41:10).

When our hands need help, God offers a helping hand—His own.

And His grip will never let go.

 

 

Why Not?

“Out of reverence for God, I did not act like that.”  Nehemiah 5:15

Why do you do what you do?  That’s a good question to ask, but sometimes so is this one:  Why don’t you do what you don’t do? 

Our honest answers would vary.  If an action is undoubtedly wrong, we might say we’re afraid of getting caught.  We don’t want to face the consequences of our choices.  We don’t want to look bad to those who think we’re good.  We take seriously the reputation of the organization, company, family, or church we represent. And often we would say it’s because we’re Christians.

And what if a choice is not necessarily wrong and some even think it’s right?  Why would we choose not to do it then?  Many of the same reasons apply.  We don’t want to look bad to those who think we’re good.  We take seriously the reputation of the organization, company, family, or church we represent. And often we would say it’s because we’re Christians.

But since our salvation is totally dependent on what God did and not on what we do, why should being a Christian be a factor in our choices?  Because the overwhelming mercy and astounding grace of God in Christ should create in us a desire to honor Him in every way possible—by what we do and what we don’t do.  “You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather serve one another in love”(Gal. 5:13).  The grace of our relationship with God should guide our actions, and our love for Him should show up in how we live.

As governor of the land of Judah, Nehemiah could have required his constituents to keep his cupboards stocked and his wine cellar full.  Their contributions would have been helpful because “one hundred fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well of those who came to us from the surrounding nations.  Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds”(Neh. 5:17-18). But in spite of the hearty number of dinner guests, Nehemiah “never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because these demands were heavy on the people”(Neh 5:18).  His predecessors had placed a big burden on those they governed by demanding a monetary tax in addition to the required groceries, and “their assistants also lorded it over the people”(Neh 5:15).  But Nehemiah stated that “out of reverence for God I did not act like that”(Neh 5:15).

There’s our real reason for doing what we do and for not doing what we don’t do—reverence for God.  Realizing who God is and responding with our lives.  Being so amazed by God’s grace that we want to show others His goodness.  Not fear of being found out, not concern for our own reputation, but our absolute awe of God and our amazed adoration for God should drive our decisions all day every day. 

Just because you could doesn’t mean you should.

Live the way you live because you love God.

 

The Interest of Others

“What you are doing is not right.  You are demanding interest from your own countrymen.”  Nehemiah 5: 10,7

In the middle of working on the wall, Nehemiah had to pause and handle some people problems—issues that would never have come up if God’s Law had been lived out.  God’s people had been instructed to take care of each other and not take advantage of each other, but around Jerusalem, just the opposite was taking place.  The difficulties of living in a war-torn land under a foreign king’s command had created desperate times for many Jewish families, and the ones in charge were charging for their charity.

“Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their Jewish brothers”(Neh 5:1).  Those with lots of kids needed lots of food, and some were mortgaging fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain(Neh 5:2-3).  Others had sold their sons and daughters as slaves to pay property taxes and had no way of buying them back because of the liens they had taken out to buy lunch(Neh 5:4).

When Nehemiah heard the charges, he got charged up.  “When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry”(Neh 5:6), but he held his tongue until he had used his head.  “I pondered these things in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials”(Neh 5:7).  Nehemiah accused them of charging interest to their countrymen and of selling their brothers to the Gentiles.  At his indictment, “they kept quiet, for they could find nothing to say”(Neh 5:8).

They had no defense, for God had written the rules in black and white.  “Do not charge your brother interest, whether on money or food or anything else that may earn interest”(Deut 25:5)  “If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him…Do not take interest of any kind from him, but fear your God, so that your countrymen may continue to live among you”(Lev 25:35).  The people of Jerusalem knew this Law but were choosing to ignore this Law to make a little—or a lot—of profit. 

Nehemiah didn’t pull punches or try to be politically correct when he spoke the truth—“What you are doing is not right” (Neh 5:9).  He immediately demanded that the leaders hand back the property, houses, and interest they had earned from their loans.  The nobles and officials took an oath to return what they had taken, and they did.  “At this, the whole assembly said, ‘Amen,’ and praised the Lord.  And the people did as they had promised”(Neh 5:13).

This passage is not meant to create a debate on the morality of interest in modern times, but God’s principles still apply.  No one should be taken advantage of—especially when they’re down and there’s no way out unless you step in.  When that happens, especially with other Christians, the question should never be, “What can I get out of someone?” but instead, “How can I help someone out?”  If we’re not careful, we can “exact usury” in many ways besides the monetary. 

In dealing with others, it’s best to remember that interest out of someone is never as good as interest in someone.

“Each of you should look not only to your own interest, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4

 

Battle Plans

“We prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.”  Nehemiah 4:9

“The Christian life is not lived on a playground but a battleground,” a wise preacher once said on Sunday, and Monday morning proved him right.  Actually, by the time we reached the benediction, the enemy was at us full blast, hurling frustrations and launching distractions—anything to lower and limit our effectiveness in building God’s kingdom.  To not be deterred or dismayed, we need to be aware of the enemy’s tactics and be prepared for His attacks. 

When Nehemiah was working on Jerusalem’s wall, the assault began with ridicule.  “What are those feeble Jews doing? Can they bring stones back to life from those heaps of rubble?” an angry Sanballat snorted to his associates and Samaria’s army(Neh. 4:2).  Then his evil sidekick, Tobiah, joined in the jibes.  “What they are building—if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!”(Neh. 4:3) 

Nehemiah’s response to this derision was not to defend himself to his accusers, but to pray for God’s action against them.  “Hear us, O God, for we are despised.  Turn their insults back on their own heads”(Neh. 4:4).  And he kept on building.  “So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart”(Neh. 4:6).

When the opposition got wind that “the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry”(Neh. 4:7).  Their verbal threats escalated toward physical violence as they plotted to fight, so Nehemiah and his men “prayed to our God and posted a guard”(Neh. 4:9).  Nehemiah “stationed people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places” and then delivered a stirring speech to his countrymen.  “Don’t be afraid of them.  Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes!”(Neh. 4:14).

When the enemy found out that Nehemiah had found them out, they stepped back for a bit, and the Jews “returned to the wall, each to his own work”(Neh. 4:15).  However, from that time on, the people “did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other”(Neh. 4:17).  Sounds like a good strategy.  The assaults and attacks of the enemy will be constant and clever.  We must “put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes”(Eph. 6:11).  We should live each day with the tools of our trade in one hand and the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” in the other(Eph. 6:17).  Brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, wives, and homes are depending on us, and our God is great and awesome!

Life on earth is not recess.  It’s war.  The gates of hell will not prevail, but we cannot get lax and lose ground.  Pray to God, post a guard, and pick up your sword.  “Our God will fight for us!” (Neh. 4:20).