Pulling the Weeds

As I was studying this week’s passage I found an interesting illustration which I think everyone can relate to... “Pulling the Weeds.”

Think about this with me...  In the heat of the summer have you ever noticed that nothing grows well but the weeds? Unlike your garden or your flowers or your manicured lawns weeds are tolerant. They don't really care if they get refreshed. Weeds aren't concerned about their future, they just go crazy in every condition...hot, cool, wet, dry. Especially, dry! So during summer heat the weeds seem to overtake everything else, making it difficult for anything to flourish, except the weeds. 

Yards and gardens lack in luster and start losing their potential to be beautiful or productive.

The same is true with us. When we are not getting the correct nourishment or the right amount of water, we become unhealthy. We begin to wilt, if you will, and soon the "weeds" start taking over in our bodies and in our lives. 

The worst type of weeds are the spiritual weeds. These weeds can not only damage our spirits but they can also end up chocking out our faith our motivation and our focus on the spiritual things of God. 

This week we are looking at the need for personal confession of sin, how and personal repentance precedes national repentance... Confession of our sins is essential to enjoy God's favor and spiritual blessings. 

Unfortunately, we live in a day when it’s not popular to admit wrong, seek forgiveness or even ask for help... We elevate self, self-esteem and individuality such that they are valued higher than a relationship with God. 

We are urged to think the best of ourselves in order to achieve our full potential. If there is a problem we can solve it, if there is a hurdle we can clear it… Self-help books, life coaches, and other counselors abound helping clients to overcome a poor self-image and to believe in themselves and their worth.

But our worth and our image are not to be found in ourselves. It is to be found in Christ.  

When the heat waves come or the dry spells hit and the weeds start to get thick, there is only One Way to regain the luster, the life, the power, the control in your life. It comes from the Water that never dries up. It comes from the never ending source. It comes from the Well that never fails. Jesus Christ and Him crucified, resurrected and ascended to the Right Hand of the Father. 

Don’t let the heat keep you down get out there, pull those weeds that have popped up in your life and start again with the refreshing water of life. Jesus, the thirst quencher!

Have a great weekend and a great week.

The Result of Obedience

Nehemiah 8:13-18 is about far more than some obscure festival found in the book of Deuteronomy (Deut 31:9-13). As we study this passage this week see a deeper message in the story. The result of obedience.

For so many the term obedience carry’s a negative connotation. We hear the term and we think of rules and obligations. However, as we see illustrated so clearly in this week’s passage obedience to God even in the little things brings a specific result. Look at what it says in verse 17:

The glorious promise that we see here is that when we follow God in full obedience there is tremendous joy.

Joy comes as the result of obedience. Does that mean all obedience is pain free and joyful in that moment? No, but what it does mean that the more we walk in obedience the more we can understand and find joy in the sorrow and in the pain.

Rather than seeking joy, rather than seeking personal fulfilment we should be seeking obedience to source of our joy and fulfilment. Obedience to God and to His Word.

What are you seeking today?

See ya Sunday! 

God's People Love God's Word

This week as we dive into Nehemiah 8. The walls are up, the city’s restoration and re-population is under way and now all the people gathered together and they plead for Ezra to bring out the scrolls and read the law to them. 

Ezra has been faithfully preaching and teaching the Law to the people for the past 13 years, the walls are rebuilt and the people want the Law, the want the Word!

God’s people love God’s Word!

Now that the city was safe they were turning their attention to the Word and what follows?

In verse 9 we see the people’s response to their understanding the Word that has been read: The understanding of the Word provokes weeping, which is the right response, suggesting repentance.

Paradoxically, the right response of weeping opened the way to freedom to rejoice (vs 10) and the result we see as Ezra reads the Law before the people revival begins to breakout, the people repent and turn their hearts back to God.

Do you love God’s Word? Do you rejoice because you have understood what you have read in God’s Word?

See you Sunday! 

Sign Me Up!

Over the last two months, we have watched Nehemiah go through obstacle after obstacle as he worked with the Israelites to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. First he had to get the king’s permission to leave his position of cupbearer and head off to Jerusalem; keeping in mind that this same king, years before, had put a stop to the rebuilding of the walls. 

Once he was in Jerusalem and the building began, he faced ridicule from surrounding nations that wouldn’t go away. The amount of people opposing them grew and the form of opposition went from ridicule to physical threats of attack and others. Then, if that wasn’t enough, the rich Jews began to exploit their poorer neighbors and caused more problems. 

But despite all of the obstacles that Nehemiah and the Israelite people had to face, they completed the task with the help of God.

As we pick up the story in chapter 7, it tells us that Nehemiah had the doors and gates set up properly, he appointed guards, and assigned the people who would take care of the Temple. He also appointed a governor and a commander over the city. 

Now after all that Nehemiah had accomplished, one would think it’s time for a vacation… perfect time to sit back and admire what the Israelite's had accomplished.

But this is not what happened. 

There was still more to be done. 7:4 tells us that “the city was large and spacious, but the population was small, and none of the houses had been rebuilt.”

So Nehemiah gathers all the people together for registration, which is what we find in the bulk of chapter 7.

This list in Nehemiah, is an amazing list of people who have taken a stand for Christ. It is a list of people who have committed to living their lives to grow, serve, worship and share. These people have stood up, unashamed, and decided to make a difference in the lives of the people around them.

Their names are registered, and recorded… Are yours? 

Are you willing to stand up and be counted for the King of Kings? 

Are you on that list?????