Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 13; Malachi 1; Malachi 2; Acts 4
Scripture: Nehemiah 13:10-11
10 I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and singers responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields. 11 So I rebuked the officials and asked them, "Why is the house of God neglected?" Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.
Observation: Nehemiah had instituted great reforms based on repentance. He had personally repented and had led his people in repenting before God. But he had to leave Jerusalem to return to the king and while he was gone, progress halted and reversals happened. In other words, they experienced backsliding. When Nehemiah returned, he was livid with the lack of attention to following God -- they had gone back to living like the people around them. They were living like heathens and Nehemiah steps in again to straighten it all out.
Application: What I notice here is that once changes are made, it is still hard to stay on track -- and even harder to make further progress. The natural propensity for ease and laziness kicks in and the backwards slide starts. The saying goes, "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." I know this is true. If I am to be free, I must be vigilant and relentless in pursuing God. Evil is always ready to move in.
Prayer: Lord, help me to keep moving forward with you. Give me a diligent heart and a vigilant spirit that I may spot the "little foxes that spoil the vine" and stay on track with you.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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