ESOCS Devotional 21 September 2022
TEXT: NEHEMIAH 8: 1-12
MEMORY VERSE: “They gave an oral translation of God’s law and explained it so that the people could understand it. When the people heard what the law required, they were so moved that they began to cry.” Nehemiah 8:8 GNB.
0 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted lace ”
The accounts in our text today explain some of Ezra’s activities as a priest and religious leader of the Jews who returned to Jerusalem from years of captivity. On hearing what God actually required of them as His own special people, they were so pricked in the heart that they wept sorely. See also Acts 2:37-38.
True revival are identified as such, when people turn their focus to the reading and understanding of the word of God. (Acts 17:11). After listening to Ezra’s reading and interpretation of the word of God, the people lifted their hands in praise, and bowed their heads in worship (vs. 6). They were moved by what they heard, and greatly cherished the word of the Lord.
The message of the gospel is a message of hope. Those who joyfully receive it must forget the past and learn to move on to the future in hope. The word of God introduces us to the joy of the Lord, which is the strength of believers (Psalms 118:14, 140:7, 144:1). And how true is this? Yes people who are filled with the joy of the Lord, understand the grace of God. (Isaiah 41:18, John 4:14). Their joy is based on the fact that they realize that they are forgiven. True joy, therefore, is based on mourning over our past sins. It is also based on our understanding of God’s forgiving grace. It has a strong link with our obedience to the word of God (Philippians 4:4-7).
Back to our text; the reading of the law by Ezra, gave the people a sense of direction. The words flashed a message of hope that was based on their repentance. By understanding the mercy and grace of God, in reference to their past sinful life, the people were revived in their spirit and rejoiced.
Child of God, it’s time to give more attention to the study of the word of God. Enough of this lip service syndrome. It’s time to dig deep, and get revived in your spirit, soul and body. In our text, the people wept for their past sins of idolatry. But these days, there is a worse than the sin of idol worship. It is the sin of covetousness (greed) that has diverted people’s attention from the pure word of God. And Jesus warns believers to beware, and guard against every kind of greed. The Master stressed that a man’s worth is not to be measured by how much material possession he owns (Luke 12:15). Life should rather be measured by the amount of God’s word one has acquired and put to practice. Beware.
CHALLENGES: Our pulpits today should balance overstress on motivational messages with emphasis on salvation messages. Do you agree?
PRAYER POINTS: Lord Jesus, teach us to return to the core message of the Church, as you did. Amen.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Judges 11: 7-15; Matthew 11: 7-19; Acts 4: 32-5:11.
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ESOCS Devotional 21 September 2022
