The storyline today is about identifying what’s considered to be “right” and what makes something “wrong” in higher society…
READ NEHEMIAH 5 Make notes of what stands out for you. Feel free to use the “Leave a Comment” box below to also write some of your thoughts.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Many of us like to think, or hope, that humanity’s evolved – notably in our thinking and behaviour. But what makes behaviour “bad”? What makes our attitudes “wrong”, and who decides what’s “right”?
When Nehemiah heard the outcry, in today’s chapter, that alerted him to something being “wrong”, he was angry. But before reacting, he pondered it in his mind. [v6-7a] He couldn’t accuse anyone, until he’d established a case for what was defined as “not right”, and his only method of measurement was to appeal to a higher order.
He used the Creator’s handbook of existing rules, rather than his own ideas, for a way forward. [v9] “Rightness”, for him, was based on his knowledge of God’s Judgement Day. [v13] And while the outcomes benefited humans, his actions were ultimately out of reverence for his Maker. [v15] He knew that, at the end of it all, his Maker would look with favour over his life story, which matters for eternity. [v19]
Read More? …CLICK on “09 July – Additional Notes”
But what about your thoughts – can you tell me what today’s “breadcrumb” is? Leave a note in the “Comments” box below to tell me what you think of today’s chapter.
Wanting to connect with the God who first separated right from wrong? The rest of this webpage uses Jesus’ own prayer to help…[a]
THE LORD’S PRAYER:
1. Praise: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come! Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven …”
I ascribe to You Lord, the glory due to Your Name. I bring an offering and come before You and worship You Lord, in the splendour of Your holiness. [1 Chronicles 16:29]
2. Ask: “…Give us today our daily bread…”
The World: Victims of poverty in Indonesia[b]
Your Country: Human trafficking and slave trade
Yourself: Commitment to your Maker and His Word
Your concerns for today
Help me, Lord, to be devoted to prayer, being watchful and thankful. I pray for Your people, too, that You may open a door for Your message, so that I may proclaim the mystery of Your Good News, which is currently bound in chains. [Colossians 4:2-3]
3. Admit: “…Forgive us our sin as we forgive those who sin against us…”
Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them, and in whose spirit is no deceit. [Psalm 32:2]
4. Protect: “…Lead us not into temptation but delivers us from evil.”
In the fullness of time, Father God, You’ll gather me and, at that time, You’ll bring me home! You’ll give me honour and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when You restore my destiny before my very eyes. [Zechariah 3:20]
“For Yours Lord is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory now and forever. Amen!”
When questioned, tested, tricked or in His hour of great need, Jesus spoke what was previously written in God’s Word.[c] So, the final section on this page is about memorizing our Maker’s script through 10 topics. Following these will help you learn 52 portions from His Handbook in a year! THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE: Our Maker’s Handbook
Your Word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. [Psalm 119:11]
[a] Matthew 6:5-15
[b] http://www.operationworld.org/country/indo/owtext.html
[c] Matthew 4:4,6,7,10; 11:10; 21:13; and 26:24,31
On the topic of behaviour, unless mankind understands his/her own worldview (i.e. what is important in life), his/her behaviour won’t change. That also speaks for the child of God… We wonder so many times why people continue to have the same old habits, even after committing to following our Maker’s example. We are carrying the traditional baggage of our past life with us. Believers in the Creator God over the centuries have learned a number of traditions and behaviour, things they believe are good and correct, and therefore their behaviour became what we see today. The disinterest on the salvation of those whom have not heard the Creator’s Good News, for example. It’s become very hard to talk people into living simple lives and to work for our Maker’s Kingdom, counting everything for the sake of it. The “I”, and the “me” and “my comfort”, “my rights”, “me” being blessed. The centre of my happiness is that Father God must bless me, me, me. Or the worldview of a modern Believer at its centre is me, my salvation, and my happiness, my comforts.
Unless we can change our worldview to the Creator God has blessed me with an eternal salvation, I must be a blessing to all the nations, not only my own, or the people I know, but to all strangers, anyone and everyone,.. being a blessing to others, a must, an obligation, having His Global MasterPlan at the very centre of all I do, think, how I spend the money that He has blessed me with.
What needs to be changed is our worldview if we want to see a change of our behaviour? The focal point of all our thinking as worldwide Believers must be on all those whom the Father God’s story (from beginning to end) has not yet been made available, been preached. What can I do to see this become a reality? Changing my worldview and my behaviour would also change.