Title: Guard the Gates / Topic: The Sabbath

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 13; Malachi 1, 2; Acts 4

Scripture: Nehemiah 13:19-22

When evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be shut and not opened until the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my own men at the gates so that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day. Once or twice the merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem. But I warned them and said, “Why do you spend the night by the wall? If you do this again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on they no longer came on the Sabbath. Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy.

Observation: Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem to find gross violations of God's law. Neglect and corruption are everywhere. The tithes are being embezzled, the Levites have left their posts, an enemy of the Jews has a rented room in the temple, and the Sabbath is ignored.

So Nehemiah takes action. Here he enforces the Sabbath by ordering that the gates of Jerusalem be shut tight and guarded for the entire Sabbath (from sundown to sundown). The merchants and traders who regularly did business on the Sabbath showed up and camped out, but they were not allowed in. Eventually, they gave up and stopped coming on the Sabbath.

Application: The Sabbath principle is this: There is a part of our time that belongs to God. It is his and not ours. (This is similar to the tithe principle, which has to do with our income.) This story clearly demonstrates that there are plenty of people and activities that will try to steal God's time. And if we aren't paying attention, they will be successful. It takes real determination and effort to reserve God's time for God. This is especially true today with 24 hour TV networks, ever-present Internet on WiFi, smart phones, iPods, and the multiplication of entertainment and amusement opportunities.

We have to shut some gates, post some guards, and monitor those points of entry so that those intruders cannot get in and steal from us what is not ours to give.

Bottom line: Give God his time. It takes force to set it apart and guard it. Get alone with God. Give him at least one day out of seven. (Sabbath means seventh.)

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father,

Forgive me for my neglect of time with you. And I confess that this will be a struggle for me, as I am an easily distracted man. Help me to find the will and the ways to guard your time in my life. I want to know you more and more. May I live these words that I claim to believe.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Title: The Currency of the Kingdom / Topic: True Riches

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 11, 12; Psalm 1; Acts 3

Scripture: Acts 3:6-8

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

Observation: Peter and John encounter a crippled beggar at the gate of the Temple. They make eye contact and the beggar is hopeful that they will put some money in his jar. (Most people avert their eyes from beggars.) But Peter doesn't give him money. In fact he says he doesn't have any. But then, these words: "but what I have I give you..." are prelude to the miraculous. "In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, rise up and walk." And the man is helped to his feet and he can walk and even jump around! Peter didn't have money, but he had the currency of the Kingdom.

Application: Unfortunately, most of our American churches cannot say what Peter said. We would have to say, "Silver and gold we have, (some much and many a little) and that is all we can give." Today, the crippled, the blind, the deaf, the demon possessed, we can only help with money. We sponsor a program or provide an outreach. But precious few are dramatically healed by the name of Jesus.

Money has become a crutch that has crippled the church. With prosperity and acceptance, we have drifted steadily away from the miraculous. But if all we offer is social programs without the power of God, have we not just become another social services provider?

Somehow we need to get back to the true riches of the power of God and forsake the religious urge to do good with our own resources.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father,

Give us your power. We have lost so much. We say we believe in your power but we don't walk in it. Help your church repent and to come back to functioning in the power of your Holy Spirit. We would see the name of Jesus elevated, not by clever words, but by the demonstration of the power of God in our broken world. Help us, dear Lord.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.