If you've ever read the history of the Israelites, then you certainly have ridden the rollercoaster of faith. Because they had many highs and lows, drawing close and trusting God, then rebelling to live their own stubborn and hard-hearted ways. But God always remained the same. He was the stable and sturdy track, that kept the steel car propelled, even to return to their promised land. Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads. Then those of Israelite lineage separated themselves from all foreigners; and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. Nehemiah 9:1-2 NKJV And the Levites stood to read the historical account of how God led them through the hills and valleys of faithfulness when they did and didn't follow closely the ways of the Lord. Until 38 verses later, they promise to follow all God's law in this manner... “And because of all this, We make a sure covenant and write it; Our leaders, our Levites, and our priests seal it.” Nehemiah 9:39 So why on earth did they have to confess the sins of the faithless people who lived so long ago before them? I mean, these people didn't commit the sins that led to their captivity to Babylon. It was their fathers, and the fathers before them Why should they have to confess for the sins of people long ago? Why should they even have to endure the lengthy and depressing history lesson? Surely, this is a hard thing to conceive. But if only we will take the time to read through, to study and listen... we would find that from God's perspective these people of old, did nothing more that live in the cyclical pattern of sin. For the same pattern repeated itself over, and over, and over... again. None of them invented anything new. It's the same rebellion of the human heart wanting to have our own way. So these new residents of Jerusalem wisely agreed, that if they would accept the fact that they too are capable of each and every sin that their forefathers committed... and if they listened intently to the history lesson laid out chronologically, then maybe they could change the pattern. Just maybe they could break the cycle and start a fresh habit of obedience to God. And what an honest and interesting concept of the heart. Rather than judging the sins of others, pointing a finger and saying... that could never, that would never, that will never happen to me. I'm not capable of THAT sin. Maybe we should consider the cycle of the human heart. Simply because we currently don't see ourselves desperate enough to commit that sin, does not mean that one day, we won't be. Never, say... never! I've decided to simply admit that I am capable of any sin which any human can commit. Not that I WANT to have a sinful heart. But rather, that I want to AVOID a judgmental spirit toward others. So along with these new citizens of Jerusalem, I too, confess my sins of their forefathers... And because of all this, We make a sure covenant and write it. So let me commit to the Lord... Stand up and bless the Lord your God Forever and ever! “Blessed be Your glorious name, Which is exalted above all blessing and praise! You alone are the Lord; You have made heaven, The heaven of heavens, with all their host, The earth and everything on it, The seas and all that is in them, And You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You. Nehemiah 9:5-6 Word of God train me today... To live an honest life, with an honest heart to serve You always. To not judge others, nor their motives, without first knowing I am capable of the same.
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January 2019
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