Nehemiah 7-9

We pick up in Nehemiah 7 when the wall has finally been rebuilt, the gates put in, and guards assigned to their posts.

In chapter 7, Nehemiah writes of how many citizens had fled the city, during the attacks. He makes a compiled list of all the families and priests that lived in the city to call them back to begin rebuilding the homes inside the city walls. The governor of Jerusalem, Nehemiah, gives gold to help with rebuilding and many heads of their families give as well. Now, with people, finances and motivation, Jerusalem can start to be rebuilt.

In chapter 8, Ezra the priest begins reading the Books of Moses, starting on the first day of the seventh month and ending eight days later. It also writes about how many Levites and ones returning from exile make temporary houses out of olive branches. They make these houses near the main gate, where Ezra is reading the Law, as to not miss anything he says.

Chapter 9 is mainly a lengthy prayer to the Lord, explaining much of the past of the people of Jerusalem and asking for forgiveness on behalf of their ancestors and their people. The last few verses say that many agreed with this prayer and wished to make a binding agreement with the Lord and had many leaders and Levites seal this agreement.

-Alec

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

Nehemiah 1-3

As you may know, we have just wrapped up 1 Timothy. Which means, it's time for a new book! We have decided to go into the Old Testament with Nehemiah. We are going to be going through three chapters a week, so make sure that you are on top of that. Nehemiah was written in first person, which means it was written by Nehemiah himself. He wrote it from Jerusalem when he returned with the third group of exiles. He writes to tell us about the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and the faith that was rebuilt alongside the walls. He will face opposition and scrutiny from enemies. Knowing this, he still completes what God has called him to do, even though he was fearful of what might happen. While reading these first few chapters, I encourage you to look at the situations around you that you may be fearful of. What are you doing with this? Are you going after Gods calling regardless? Are you seeking His heart even when your in despair?

In chapter one, Nehemiah learns about the state that Jerusalem is in. His brother came to visit, and when Nehemiah asked how Jerusalem was, his brother told him things were not well and that the wall of Jerusalem had been torn down. Nehemiah wept for his people. In his despair, he looked to God and sought His counsel. Nehemiah he fasted and prayed for days asking Him to remember what God told Moses. He wanted nothing more than to rebuild the Wall that was gone. For that, he needed the King's favor.

Chapter two and three goes on to explain to us Nehemiah's actions. He was a cup bearer to King Artaxerxes's during his reign. While bringing the King wine, the King asked him why he was so sad looking. He explained what had happened and the King gave him permission to go help rebuild the cities walls. When Nehemiah entered, he spoke to the city officials and Jewish leaders. He told them of the trouble and told them what God had said. They replied instantly saying to rebuild the wall. In Nehemiah 2:19, Nehemiah receives some opposition, but quickly replies telling them that God will help them succeed. This is proven when high priests began rebuilding and dedicating the gates and walls.

-Bridget

1 Timothy 6

As we wrap up 1 Timothy, Paul gives a few final words to Timothy. He first speaks of the rich and wealthy and how many of them were once believers themselves, but gave into the temptation of "knowledge" which only leads to selfishness. He says they will not inherit God's kingdom because their eyes are blocked by greed and they will continue to follow that path forever.

He then goes on to say, to stay away from all who are like this as they will bring nothing to you, but hardships and will only try to bring you down. I think he says this to speak to Timothy as he was young and impressionable. I think this really impacts us and young people in general because we must guard our hearts against attacks, but not completely seclude ourselves to the saved because if we do, how will others come to Christ?

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 4

This chapter is a continuation of Paul's instructions to Timothy on how the Church of Christ should conduct themselves. The beginning of this chapter talks about the many who will fall away from their faith and be induced by the liars and slanderers of the world. Then, it transfers to the ones who stay true on their path with God and how it is their, and our, job to bring correction to their ways, but at the same time love and support them.

Verse 12 speaks again of not letting age hold you back from your calling that God has placed on your life. Verse 13 goes on to Timothy's calling to preach the Word and share the gospel in public, among the people. These two verses make me think of our generation and how we all think we can change the world by ourselves. And although that is true, I think its speaking more about not looking at the world as a whole, but as lots of small sections and we need to conquer our own section to contribute to the whole. Timothy had to defeat his own fears about his age and his relative success in leading people to Christ to truly fulfill his calling. Yet, once he did, he had great success and accomplished a lot in his lifetime. Don't we also need to overcome our fear of talking to our friends at school about God or saying a quick prayer before eating dinner with our family?

If we go through this life always wondering "what if?" how will we ever know, or do, what God has called us to? How will we know if that best friend of ours, that turned their back on God, would have come back to church, if we never called them? How will we ever know that the lonely kid at lunch would grow up to be a great preacher of the gospel, if we didn't just say hi and get to know them? Just as Timothy did, we must rise against the odds, say NO to the slanderers and liars and be a light to the people in our life. Will you conquer your section? Will you be a Timothy?

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