A New Year's Spiritual Inventory
Today's Reading: Nehemiah 8-9
Because of the length of this passage, it will not be copied here.
Through the Bible Readings: Malachi 1-2, Revelation 21, Psalm 149, Proverbs 31:27–28
If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.
Devotional: Revival!
Revival! Let's pray for revival!
You hear those words so often, but it means different things to different people. What is a revival? How can you quantify a revival? Is it even something we ought to seek as individuals, churches and nations?
Nehemiah 8 records what could safely be described as a revival. There is no standard definition of revival, but this one would satisfy most definitions. God's people, who had been wandering from him into sin, repent and return to him in such a way that the life of the nation was affected. Ezra led God's people in repentance and they recommitted themselves to him with passion and joy.
But how did it happen?
Of course, revival is an act of God to restore his people, but there are certain things that happened here that can be seen as a template for us as we seek revival.
First of all, the people gathered together, in fact, Nehemiah 8:1 says that they all came together. I can experience a personal renewal in my life, but genuine revival is something that happens to God's people as a group. If we want to see God revive us and our church, we must recommit ourselves to faithful fellowship within the Body of Christ.
Second, revival is focused on God's word. Look at what happens in these verses. Ezra read publicly from God's word from sunup until noontime - at least 6 hours. As Ezra read the Law several Levites scattered through the crowd and explained its meaning. It was a six hour sermon! The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to do the work of God in the people of God. As the Scriptures were read and explained, the power of God came upon the people.
It is important to note that Ezra did not whip the people up into an emotional frenzy or manipulate guilt or any of the things so common today. It was the word of God that changed lives.
It also took time. You cannot microwave spiritual renewal. Not only did the people spend 6 hours listening to the word, but they stayed gathered together for seven days of worship and feasting. In the early church era, the believers gathered daily to fellowship and seek God. Not weekly for one hour, but daily. It takes time to draw near to God.
There was repentance among the people. There was rejoicing. God works in different ways in different times, but the common elements are the word of God being used by the Spirit. As the word of God was proclaimed, the Spirit of God came on the people and they began to repent. Their sorrow over their sin was so intense that Ezra had to remind them that the joy of the Lord was their strength, that they should not just repent but rejoice in him.
If we would be revived today, the Scriptures must be read and proclaimed clearly among God's people, that the Spirit of God might draw the church to repentance and spiritual renewal.
Father, I can feel it in my soul. I need a renewing of your grace and mercy. Help me to remember not only to repent of my sin, but also to revel in the joy of your love.
Give Careful Thought to Your Ways:
Do you take the time to draw near to God?
Are you consistently and faithfully reading and studying God's word?
Is repentance and spiritual renewal a common practice for you?
Are you consistently and faithfully reading and studying God's word?
Is repentance and spiritual renewal a common practice for you?
Hymn of the Day:
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
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