Nehemiah 4-6

There is so much packed into this weeks devotional and I want you guys to read it and get out fo it what you can and post to share and glean for others.

Chapter 4 is about the opposition that Nehemiah and the Israelites faced during the reconstruction of the wall. It starts off with the ridicule they took from all the neighboring governors opposed to the reconstruction of the wall and their plot to attack and destroy all the Israelites and their work on the wall. The second half of the chapter is about the workers and how they were planning to defend themselves while working and how they would rely on God to pull them through.

Chapter 5 shows the humility and lack of greed on Nehemiah's part as he was doing all he could to help the Israelites in need. The officials and nobles who owned their land and charged them heavily for everything listened to Nehemiah and his wisdom and lifted the taxations and interest that they were charging the Israelites. Even when he became the governor he maintained his integrity and humility and did not take from the people because he knew it would be to hard on him. That is a great example of trying to bring justice to the people by not taking and giving plentifully.

Chapter 6 has even further threats and intimidation of Nehemiah about the rebuilding that failed and God had carried Nehemiah through the finishing of the walls and setting the doors in their place. Many of the surrounding territories were in fear because they realized it was finished because the God of heaven was with them. The wall and gates were completed in 52 days.....let me rephrase that; the completely demolished and burned walls of Jerusalem surrounding the ENTIRE city was rebuilt in 52 DAYS!!!11 What an incredible and powerful God we serve.

Please post with your responses and what you got from these chapters because I for sure would LOVE to learn something you got from this devotional and your point of view.

-Billium

1 Timothy 5

This chapter contains a lot of wisdom and advice from Paul. The Apostle Paul was a very wise teacher and leader. The things he tells Timothy are for the purpose of serving people through the church, but also not to let the church be taken advantage of by people with bad intentions.
At verse twenty-two Paul says some interesting things to timothy regarding the laying on of hands. What does the laying on of hands mean though? It does not have any kind of spiritual power or meaning. It was a way for appointing the offices in the church. So Paul is saying not to elect someone who has been recently saved. The things that new believer says will be counted against Timothy as well.
Paul was a wise teacher in advising his student not to compromise for the need of elders. The church of Ephesus was exploding and needed many teachers.
That is just some of the background here. There really is so much wisdom in this chapter. Read this chapter in a couple different translations. Remember leave comments and talk about this stuff with each other.
Two good websites for commentaries and translations are biblegateway.com and blueletterbible.org.

-fonzi

1 Timothy 3

Is he a good neighbor and friend? Does he get drunk? Is he faithful to his wife? Is he abusive? Is he greedy? These things are important to find out because, "This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth."(v.7).
This is such a powerful chapter, and though you may think you are not looking to be an elder or deacon anytime soon, you are the church. So let's have a few words on that shall we.
This chapter is split focusing on the character of a leader; then Paul changes it up and gives some heart behind the pragmatics (look it up). What is it that makes a leader? It obviously does not have much to do with the position. Timothy probably had the power to make anyone an elder, but most of the guidelines were about character, which determined a deacon’s ability to preach the gospel. Character is vital to being apart of the church, because if the truth is tainted, how is it truth.

We may not all be called to be an elder, leader, or even janitor of a church, but we are all apart of THE church, united through Christ. Paul was telling Timothy to find someone who would be a good example in character. That is what leadership is about, and in some way we all lead this church, especially the janitors.

Read through, and even write down some of the traits Paul talks about. Are you living up to this standard that is set before us? Are you married? No, ok then don't worry about that one. Are you a good neighbor and friend? Are you an example to those around you?

There are so many good things in this chapter; don’t let me stop your thinking, read it yourself and let God speak to you through this.

“Example is not the most important thing about leadership. It is the only thing.” Albert Schweitzer

-fonzi

Jonah 4

Before I give some understanding to Jonah. Remember that you must read and think about the word of God on your own.
In this last chapter of Jonah, I felt perplexed as to what Jonah was saying. He is disappointed that God spared Ninevah. Remember, the book is called Jonah, not Ninevah. Jonah was an Israelite, and before the time of Jesus and Martin Luther King jr., the Israelites were not the biggest fans of people who were not like them. Gentiles, to the Jews, were seen as lower, and undeserving of God's mercy. Jonah did the job God commanded him to, but deep down, it could be said, he hoped they would still be obliterated.
God's Salvation is for everyone. Sometimes, I wonder who we are following, when we become too self-righteous for others. This chapter changed my perspective on Jonah, and convicted me in new ways.
Let this chapter really sink in, and re-read this book a few times. There is great, hidden wisdom, inside God's mystery, and God says some profound things in Jonah.
-fonzi

first contact

Reformation is a group of young people united to create justice and bring life to a world without. We have a desire to be family, and the idea behind that is growth. We must grow together to come closer, and so we begin our journey into the word of God.
This is the first of our weekly devotional, and we ask that everyone who reads this leave a comment and continue the conversation. Taking the conversation beyond here is the ultimate goal of this devotional. We hope you will share what you learn and what God shows you with friends and strangers alike.

-RE