Week 38 Devotions

September 17 - - Great leaders are rare. They are people who not only have their own act together, but people who are able to inspire others to also get their act together. Ezra and Nehemiah were just such leaders. When they observed the sorry state of their people, they did something about it. First of all, they didn’t accept the moral decline of the Jews as inevitable and irreversible. They didn’t turn a deaf ear to Israel’s condition. They were appalled and stunned at what had happened (Ezra 9:1-4; Nehemiah 1:4). Then, they mourned, fasted, and prayed. And in their prayers, they didn’t place blame on everyone else. They accepted responsibility for the moral decay of their countrymen. They confessed their own sins, as well as the sins of their people (Ezra 9:5-15; Nehemiah 1:4-11). And with God’s help, they formulated a plan for their people returning to God (Ezra 10:1-17; Nehemiah 2:1-18). Both believed that God had always been faithful to His promises and still would be if God’s people repented. The example of faithfulness of these two great men had a positive impact on the rest of God’s people. In Ezra’s case, he was able to convince those who had married pagan wives to separate themselves from those wives. In Nehemiah’s case, he was able to convince the people of Jerusalem to help him rebuild the walls. Our world and our society cries out for leaders like these two. Our moral decay demands that someone step into the vaccuum created by sin. Where will those leaders come from? What will those leaders look like? Unless God’s people step to the plate and be the moral leaders they should be in their homes, in their churches, in their schools, in their communities, and in their nation, Satan will certainly fill that void with ungodly leaders who will lead with ungodly methods. The Bible clearly states, “When the wicked take charge, people hide” (Proverbs 28:28). “When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan” (29:2). “When the godly succeed, everyone is glad. When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding” (28:12). “The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed; they shout for joy when the godless die” (11:10). “Kings and rulers make a grave mistake if they give foolish people great authority, and if they fail to give people of proven worth their rightful place of dignity” (Ecclesiastes 10:5&6). Either we accept the God-given call to be spiritual and moral leaders in any and every sphere of influence God has placed us in, OR we are destined to reap the results of immoral and ungodly leaders whose primary concern is themselves and no one else. What is your choice? It would certainly be no insult for people to compare us to men like Ezra and Nehemiah. September 20 - - “The Lord chose your ancestors as the objects of His love. And He chose you, their descen-dants, above every other nation, as is evident today. Therefore, cleanse your sinful hearts and stop being stubborn” (Deuteronomy 10:15&16). “God overlooked people’s former ignorance about these things, but now He commands everyone everywhere to turn away from idols and turn to Him” (Acts 17:30). “Unless you repent, you will perish” (Luke 13:3,5). “Heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” (Luke 15:7). For, “there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents” (Luke 15:10). Offering up sacrifices to God without an accompanying worship of Him from our heart means nothing to Him (I Samuel 15:22; Isaiah 1:11-20). What God desires from us is a broken and repentant heart (Psalm 34:18; 51:17). When God’s people seriously study the Word of God and see for themselves how far they have strayed from God’s desired will in their lives, it always leads to either a personal and/or a national repentance from sins. Earlier, both Nehemiah and Ezra had confessed their own sins, as well as the sins of their people (Ezra 9:5-15; Nehemiah 1:4-11). Eventually, the people them-selves would follow suit and also confess their sins (Nehemiah 9:2,33). What had started with Ezra and Nehemiah eventually spread to the whole nation. After devoting themselves to reading God’s Word and repenting of their sins, the people of God made a series of solemn promises to do what God’s Word told them to do (9:38), in the areas of: marriage (10:30), the Sabbath (vs.31), care of God’s Temple (vss.32-34), the giving to God of the firstfruits He deserves (vss. 35-37a), and the giving to the Levites a tenth or tithe of “everything our land produces” (vss.37b-39). It is one thing to make a promise and it is quite another to keep a promise. The next few years would determine how serious they would be. How do you see yourself before God? As a pretty fine individual much more righteous than many of the people around, or as one who at your best is nothing more than filthy rags compared to our Holy God (Isaiah 64:6)? Just remember, it’s not a proud and haughty heart God searches for, but a broken and humble heart.