Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Fifty-Two Days in Nehemiah (Day 35)


Day 35

And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it, they made confession and worshiped the Lord their God.
Nehemiah 9:3

The ability to act on what you know will be the difference in feeling accomplished and feeling frustrated. How many times have we started an exercise program or a diet, but not finished? How many times have we began a new organizational method, but gave up when it did not go as planned? And, how many times have we made commitments to ourselves or to God about our walk with Him but gave up because it was not as easy as we thought?

The people of Jerusalem have watched as God has moved in a powerful ways amongst them. The wall is done, the Word of God has been given a central place in their lives, and some exciting things are happening. As God has continued to move, the people are getting serious about their walk with Him. They are now experiencing a corporate revival of sorts. As a result, they cannot get enough of what God’s word has to say.

The people have come together to read the word of God. We are told that they read the word for a quarter of the day – yes, six hours. Then, they spend another quarter of the day confessing and worshiping God. In other words, as they heard the word of God read, they responded to it in obedience. They did not delay their action. They followed the prompting of God immediately, which led to these acts of confession and worship.

While it may be frustrating when we do not see a diet or exercise plan through to the end, it can be catastrophic if we do not see obedience to the Lord through to its completion. When God speaks to us, we must act. We must not delay obedience or wait for a more convenient time. If God has made His will clear to you, then act! There is simply no better time than the present.

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