The Word Brings Change
Daily Old Testament Reading: Nehemiah 8-10
Daily Focus Passage: Nehemiah 8-9
When we gaze at the culture around us, we find that darkness appears to grow deeper. Morals form through interpretation instead of holding to the truth; crime constantly expands, and the main influences of this world rest in the material and temporal and not the eternal. Ultimately, a need for revival exists.
In the Book of Nehemiah, the people face many obstacles while rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. The walls had been destroyed, and the people were taken into captivity because of their disobedience before the Lord. Now, as they return, they construct the wall under the calling of the Lord and the instruction of Nehemiah. Yet, the people knew something remained absent in their lives. In Nehemiah 8-9, the people found the missing book of the Law and allowed the truth from the book to change their lives. Today, we must seek the truth of God's Word to change the culture around us.
THE READING OF THE WORD
The Word of God must be engaged. The engagement of God's Word starts with recognizing the Word of God as the revelation of absolute truth from the Lord for us. The Word is the spoken Word of God that guides us in our lives and directs us to the ways and expectations of the Lord. Reading God's Word impacts our lives when we consistently engage the truth.
We must strive to frequent the Word of God. We must strive to engage the Word of God daily to grow in the truth and allow the truth to transform our lives. The daily engagement will enable us to value the Word of God and grow in the truth. This transformation and growth occur when we read the truth of God's Word and not rest on the interpretation or ways of humanity.
THE IMPACT OF THE WORD
Reading God's Word leads to the impact of the Word upon our lives. The effect occurs in the form of conviction. When we engage the truth, we become aware of the sinful condition in our lives. When we evaluate our lives in the presence of the truth, we find how we fall short before the glory of God, and this conviction drives us to repentance.
The illuminating nature of God's Word allows truth to illuminate the darkened places of society and our lives. The Word of God penetrates the depths of our lives and seeks to reveal God's truth. The process of illuminating brings conviction but also brings correction. This correction reveals how we must pursue living in obedience before the Lord.
The Word of God brings conviction, illumination, and prompting. The prompting nature of God's Word moves us from the moment of recognition of our sinfulness and the realization of God's ways to the pursuit of following the Lord in obedience. The Word of God must prompt us to action.
THE RESPONSE TO THE WORD
The people in Nehemiah experienced the truth of God's Word and responded in faithfulness. The people mourned over their sins. The presence of mourning meant that the people acknowledged their sinfulness and owned their responsibility for sinfulness. The mourning from recognizing sin drives us to the moment of crying out for mercy.
When we cry out for mercy, we must confess. Our confession acknowledges our past sin, our present sin, our need for forgiveness, and our need for a Redeemer. Confession is the admittance of sin and the acknowledgment of the need for the removal of sin.
The mourning over sinfulness and the confession of sin set the stage for committing to follow the Word of God. As we admit our sinfulness, we must step into living in obedience. A promise is to resolve to follow the Lord no matter what. We find encouragement in this commitment by remaining in the Word of God.
When we consider the moment the Word of God was relocated as the people rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem, we find hope for revival today. We must set the course of our lives to live engaged with the Word of God. We must pray for revival within our society and pray for the work of God's Word in the hearts of people. We must set the example by living engaged with God's Word and finding avenues to engage others with the truth of the Word.
