337 Thursday, December 3, 2009

337 Nehemiah 7 – 9; Jude 1

The walls were rebuilt before the houses were rebuilt. That was a priority that was so right and practical. The wall was their protection from the enemy. The first order of business is to find out who is there. Seven months later they all gathered as one person. Ezra read from the book of Moses to all the people. He stood on a platform, read, and explained the Word to the people. It was not only Ezra explaining it, he had small group Bible study leaders out with the people helping out as well. People were burdened by the Word read that day. The leaders also were trying to get them to celebrate what the Lord has done. This is where the phrase came from, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." Even when God's Word is convicting us we need His strength.

Fight for the faith. We have lost some of that ‘call to arms’, to be a defender of the faith. We need to be on guard against thinking it wrong to defend the faith. It is unpopular, but oh so necessary in a society that wants everyone to be right. Lies are truth, truth are lies--shhhhh, don't say anything. You can fight for your team, for your politics, but in the faith arena just be quiet and let it be. Jude says no--souls are at stake. The stakes are higher in the faith arena than in any other area. No wonder they want us to just shut up. Speak up for God and His truth.