Shalom,
Proverbs 30: 2-3:
2 Surely I am too brutish and stupid to be called a man, and I have not the understanding of a man [for all my secular learning is as nothing]. 3 I have not learned skillful and godly Wisdom, that I should have the knowledge or burden of the Holy One.
Wouldn't it be refreshing if all of those without the knowledge of God and His Word would just recognize it and admit it? Then God would have something to work with in reaching them with the Truth! What can WE do? PRAY! Pray that the eyes of their understanding would become open to the Truth! Pray for laborers across their path who will be able to minister to them in the way that is needful for them! Claim the heathen as your inheritance (Psalm 2:8 - Remember, we are joint, equal heirs with Jesus {Romans 8:17}, so this applies to US, too!)! Do all that you can and trust God to do all that you can't! AMEN!
Philippians 2:5-11:
5 Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [let Him be your example in humility. 6 Who, although being essentially one with God, and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, 7 But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that he became like men and was born a human being. 8 And after He had appeared in human form, He was abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross! 9 Therefore [because he stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, 10 That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must )bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
NONE of us has given up so much and paid such a price as Jesus did for us! Let's have the same commitment to Him and to His Word so that we will set everything else aside for the purpose of obeying His will, His plan, and His purpose for our lives! We are here on this earth as Ambassadors for the Kingdom of Heaven, representing Heaven to those who have never heard, or who have been so discouraged that they forgot! Be willing to pay ANY price to get the Good News to people! Jesus is counting on you!
I have two thoughts to share with you concerning Nehemiah 12-13. First of all, here is yet another list of people involved. Were you a little tired of reading names you have never heard of and can't even pronounce? There is ONE Who is not! By naming these people, God was showing, through Nehemiah, that EVERY person was being seen by HIM and his work was recognized by the God of the Bible! That means YOU, too! HE sees you, HE knows you, HE HAS called you and anointed you to the specific job designed for YOU to perform! You are precious and valuable to Him and that makes you precious and valuable to ME, too, even if I don't yet know it or acknowledge it! Allow YOUR importance to HIM to motivate you to be ALL that He has called you to be in this life! Rewards await in the next! AMEN!
The second point is that sheep need a shepherd! Nehemiah had to stir the people up to recommit themselves to the Lord and His Word! General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, once said this to a group of new officers: "I want you young men always to bear in mind that it is the nature of a fire to go out; you must keep it stirred and fed and the ashes removed." We all need to realize that we CANNOT maintain the zeal of the Lord for His plan for our lives unless we attend to it DAILY! He blesses us with so many good blessings and wants us to enjoy them all! BUT, not one of them is more important than HIS #1 priority! Hide the Word in your heart so that YOU can keep the fire burning in YOU! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
