Nehemiah 9:1-3 - On the twenty-fourth day of the same month,
the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and having dust
on their heads. Those of
Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners.
They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the wickedness of their
fathers. They stood where
they were and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter
of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the LORD
their God.
Only a month since the Festival of Tabernacles…the people
gathered once more to seek God. They
humbled themselves…dressed in mourning clothes…fasted…..and separated themselves
from any foreigners. They gathered for a
quarter of a day…and stood in the presence of Ezra as he read the Laws given to
Moses on the mountain. Then they spent
another quarter of the day...taking turns confessing their sins to each
other.
Ezra closed the gathering with a great prayer…giving credit
to God as the creator and supplier of their every need. His prayer gave thanks
to God for bringing them through each hardship he had allowed in their lives…and
gave praise to him for the mercy that continued to forgive them and rebuild
their faith after they fell from his grace.
He ask God to use the lessons they had learned to teach them how to be a
stronger people…and renew the covenant he once made to Abraham.
Nehemiah and Ezra understood the great formula for becoming
strong in our faith. First we must come
to God in our most humble condition…broken…empty of all life distractors. Then we must study and read the great book of
directions he gave us to point out our sins.
Each sin that we recognize must be immediately purged from our life in
confession and repentance before God and someone we trust. The peace that God
gives us in our moment of confession to him…leads our heart to pure worship of
his care and love over every aspect of our lives. We want nothing but to praise
him and transform the weakness of our flesh into a strong message of hope for
others.
Study to show thyself approved unto God…a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed of the gospel…that’s what Paul told Timothy in 2
Timothy 2:15. Romans 10:9 says…. “Because, if you confess with your mouth that
Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you
will be saved.” Then we can begin to see
our own sins and begin to confess those to God too. And as he purges each transgression from our
heart with his powerful cleansing blood…so he can transform us into his
messengers of hope to others….turning the sorrow of our mistakes into messages
of hope to others.
Father…thank you for this reminder that I need to study your
great word so you can teach me right from wrong. Help me to spend more time
studying…praying for guidance….confessing the many sins you identify….and praising
you for all you have done for me. Do not let the troubles you have allowed to
teach and guide me to be nothing to you…but help me to realize the purpose for
each hardship…and take to heart the lesson that you need me to learn…so that I
may be used to spread the gospel and truth about the sacrifice of love your son
gave to all of those who believe in his name. Amen.
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