Job 7

What is man that You magnify him, and that You are concerned about him,            Job 7:17

NFL quarterback Peyton Manning is the king of commercials. He's on tv every other minute it seems. He was in a commercial a couple of years ago talking about fans. Obviously he knows what it's like to be hawked by fans, and in the commercial he played a fan of ordinary people. One scene shows him in the grocery store, begging a stockboy to sign his watermelon. Another scene shows Peyton giving high fives to waiters as they leave a restaurant, while Peyton yells out, "Good job, nice salad bar today." The commercial works because everyone knows that Peyton isn't really a fan of the little guy and that's what makes it funny.

God is a fan of the little guy. He's a fan of the person who thinks he/she has no fans. Before you get too down on Job, think about how you might have reacted in his situation. Towards the end of this depressing Job monologue, he makes a statement about why God would be concerned with man. Job has just pointed out that man is just going to die, but eternal God will keep on going. Why does God care about us? What value do we have in His eyes? God cares about us because He created us. Our value comes from what God thinks about us, not anybody else. Job was probably troubled that his friends all thought he was in some great sin. Have you forgotten how important you are to God? Do sometimes feel that others are important to God, but you're not very high on His list? Nothing you can do will make God love you any more or less than he does right now. Doubts about God's love for us, often come when we have sin in our life that we have refused to deal with. What do you need to deal with to draw closer to God?

Job 6

How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove? Job 6:25

I've really gotten involved in watching this current season of "America's Got Talent." One of the first things I realized is that America hasn't got as much talent as they think they do. People compete against each other with a wide range of abilities from sword-swallowing to singing. There are three judges, and much like American Idol, people don't like the British judge. However, when I listen to Piers, I have to admit he is probably the most helpful of all the judges. He tells people exactly how it is. He tells what he thinks they did wrong or right, and will tell them very bluntly. But as I listen, I always hear him tell the performer how they can improve. He doesn't just say "You stink", and that's it. He will tell them of a performance they did before that he liked, or an element they could add. He sometimes gets booed for his straightforward answers, but you can't deny that he is telling the truth.

I realize at this point, it seems like the book of Job is getting a bit redundant. That is part of the honesty of the book. Have you ever went round and round with some of your friends, not getting anywhere but not quitting the argument either? Job certainly did and as he responds to the words he was given, he admits that honest words are painful. I think he is referring to the straightforward way his friend has been talking to him, but Job asks what the argument proves. He says his friends are beating him up and then going no further. They aren't providing a resolution, but they are simply telling him that he's wrong. Job has a point. As we walk with God, He communicates with us. Sometimes directly by the Holy Spirit and other times through fellow believers. God's purpose is that you would apply what you hear to your life. He doesn't just want you to feel bad and that be the end. Our feelings of conviction or remorse should be turned to a desire to do something different. God's purpose isn't to make you feel bad, but to change you for the better. How are you responding to God's calls for change in your life?

Job 5

But as for me, I would seek God, and I would place my cause before God;  Job 5:8

I'm sure our kids are the only ones who deal with this, but we do have some sibling infighting at times. We have developed a system for how our kids are to handle these situations. If my son is bothering one of his sisters, his sister is to ask him to stop. If he stops then great, but if he doesn't she is supposed to come to me or her mom. The problems usually arise when a child chooses to fight instead of letting Mom or Dad handle it. When we hear a fight going on, I ask what happened. Then I ask the child "What should you have done instead of fighting?" I wait for them to tell me that they should have given the situation to Mom or Dad, which they know is the right thing to do.

Job's friend is telling Job what he would do in this situation. Eliphaz is apparently concerned that Job is not bringing his situation before God. We do read that Job didn't curse God, but we don't have any record of Job going to God and seeking an explanation. He moves from trying to have a good attitude to suddenly cursing the day he was born. We need to be sure that we are bringing the situations of our life before God. Are you talking about the troubles of your life with everyone but God? Do you look for human resolutions before you seek God's? Have you just prayed in passing, or have you really and fervently brought your concerns before God? Stop looking for sympathy from people. Seek God today, and trust Him to care for the situations in your life. 

Job 4

Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright destroyed?  Job 4:7

I know our country says that you are innocent until proven guilty, but I don't know that we think of it that way. If I see a guy go on trial for murder, I usually think, "Well if he's on trial, then he's the guy." I expect to see the man convicted, because the evidence led police to him. However, as DNA technology improves, I have seen stories of people being released from prison because the DNA from the crime doesn't match the convicted perpetrator. I think most of us think that a person who is convicted got what he had coming, and those who are found innocent probably lawyered their way out of jail.

Job's friend Eliphaz, made a lot of assumptions too. Job is being punished, so he must be receiving it for some sin he was guilty of. There are a lot of problems with this assumption. The first is that he claimed to know exactly what God was doing. There are some times that we can speak fairly clear on what God is doing. You have a friend who needs Jesus, and is under heavy conviction, and you know God is working on his/her heart. It's much harder to speculate when natural disasters come or people pass away. Was there some sin that caused it? We can't know. Later in the gospels, Jesus will tell a story about several who died in the collapse of a tower. He tells people not to assume their death was a result of sin in their lives. Standing on the outside, we can see that Eliphaz was wrong: this was a trial in Job's life, but it was not the result of any sin that he had committed or ignored. So what do you need to take from this? It's similar to the lesson from Chapter 2. When you don't know what to say, don't say anything. A believer has a responsibility to listen for the Holy Spirit and seek answers to God's actions through Him. Do you need to seek the Holy Spirit over the words of man? Do you need to repent for trying to be the voice of God, instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to do His work unhindered in the life of those around you?

Job 3

Why is light given to him who suffers, And life to the bitter of soul, Job 3:20

My pastor was recently telling us how he threw himself a pity party. You know what a pity party is, don't you? That's when you put on a sad face, and you tell people around you how terrible your situation is, and you're waiting for the big "Awww." Pastor said his problem is that when he throws a pity party he can never get anyone else to come. I've thrown a few of those unattended pity parties myself in the past. Do you know why people don't come? Because there's no cake, no Mountain Dew, and no party games. We need Christians to trade pity parties for praise parties!

Well, we start to see Job feeling the effects of his situation. Remember in Chapter 2, his three friends come and sit by him, silent, for seven days just to mourn with him. Eventually, it appears that this environment of mourning got to Job. He begins a lament on the day he was born, and asks why the suffering soul has light and breath. Remember, he lost all his possessions, his children, and now his health. He's having a bad time in his life. Without condemning Job too much, He was ignoring his own statements. When he lost everything, he was able to say "Blessed be the name of the Lord." Now, he's feeling that the Lord has completely forgotten about him, and has left him to rot. He knew the truth about the goodness of God, but it was hard to remember in the midst of his suffering. Do you feel like you've been forgotten by God? Are there times that you wonder if He is hearing your prayers and cares about your situation? If you belong to Him through the blood of Jesus Christ, then He will never leave you or forsake you. However, that doesn't mean times of difficulty and trial won't come. Just rest in Him. Look for the blessings that still exist in your life. Ask God to bring the trial to a close, and then give the situation completely to Him. 

Job 2

Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great. Job 2:13

The longer I'm married, the more I realize that men and women are different. There have been times I knew that my wife had some sort of problem going on. I know I'm supposed to listen to her, so I ask her what's wrong and listen to her problem. That's a great deposit in the marriage bank, because she knows I'm taking the time to listen to her. However, I had to learn that when she shares these problems, she's not really looking for a solution, at least not right away. She's wanting me to listen, love her, and sympathize with her. When I try to solve the problem within a few moments of discovering it, she thinks that I have not really listened to her.

If you thought Job had problems in chapter one, suddenly chapter two makes it worse. Now his health has deteriorated, along with the loss of his possessions and children. Job's wife is no great source of comfort, as she believes that Job's faith is irrelevant. Job's wife reasoned that if God really loved Job, these bad things wouldn't be happening to him. In fact, God did love Job and was very proud of the life that he lived. So eventually we see three of Job's friends show up to be with him. And for seven days they did nothing but sit next to him in silence. Not wanting to bother him, not wanting to solve the problem, but just showing up so that Job would know he wasn't alone. How do you come to people in crisis? Do you tell them that you know what they're going through? If you haven't gone through it, don't say it. Don't feel that you have to solve every problem. As a minister, I've learned that when people come and share their struggles with me, they're looking for a sympathetic ear more than a 3 step program on how to fix their problems. Just be there. If you don't know what to say, then tell them that. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you when to be silent and when to speak. 

Job 1

Then the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power , only do not put forth your hand on him." So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD. Job 1:12

There is some important theology in here that I feel compelled to cover. First of all, Satan has been cast out of Heaven and no longer has access to it. This happened before the Fall, and we learn about it in Isaiah 14:12 and Revelation 12:7-9. God is Holy and does not dwell in the presence of sin. If sinful people cannot enter into Heaven, how can the devil do so? The interaction between God and Satan came during a time of worship by men on earth, not a time of angels presenting themselves before God in Heaven. "Sons of God" in Genesis 6 is translated the same way here in Job 1, and refers to the godly offspring of Adam's son, Seth. 

So Job has some rough circumstances in his life. In spite of all of those difficulties, he never lost his faith in God. Satan was given the opportunity to take everything away from Job except for his life. When everything was gone, Job praised God. You may be undergoing some trials in your life, and Job gives us some information that I hope is of help to you. Finding yourself in trial is a good thing. It means that you are living a life that concerns Satan. I'm not excited about the attacks of the enemy, but I'd rather be someone that concerns Him, than someone he can ignore. Also, God did not bring about the trial, but He did allow it in Job's life. If God has allowed trial in your life, it's not for the purpose of failure. God allows in our lives what we can handle. If we fail in the trial, it's not because the trial was too difficult, but our resolve was weak. How are you speaking to God in your trials? Are you shaking your fist at God and asking "Why?" Or are you thanking Him for the blessings that still exist in your life and asking "What?" Asking Him what you are supposed to be learning as a result of this time in your life. It's the trials, not the easy days, that have grown me closer to my Lord. 

Esther 10

For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews and in favor with his many kinsmen, one who sought the good of his people and one who spoke for the welfare of his whole nation.  Esth 10:3

Army companies have two leaders at the top: a company commander and the company first sergeant. The commander makes the decisions, and the first sergeant hands those down to the men and makes the decisions work at the troop level. If you talked to most soldiers, they have more to say about their first sergeant than they do their commanding officer. It doesn't mean their commander is no good, but that second-in-command guy is the one they often go to first and look for leadership from. When Easy company of the 501st was stuck in Bastogne during a WWII winter, they had a very poor company commander. The reason that they held their position despite low food, ammo and other necessities, was due to the leadership that was provided by their company first sergeant. 

Here we see another second-in-command coming from the Jews and helping to rule a country that is not his. Many months ago, we came across Joseph when he was elevated to second in command over Egypt, and the Pharoah really gave Joseph complete power. We see the same position given to Mordecai as they are ruled by the Persians. What would possess a foreign king to give so much power to a man that is from another country? Apparently, the integrity that was shown in these men was greater than anything either this king or Pharoah had ever seen from one of their own countrymen. What a testimony of living your life for God! When people get to know us, there should be such an example of integrity before them, that they immediately are willing to trust us. Does your life stand out from the lost people around you? Many Christians love to flaunt their liberty to participate in wordly ventures, such as drinking, only to find that their "liberty" is causing others to take a low view of what it is to be a Christian. Today, ask God to help you examine your walk before others. Ask Him to show you where you need to be more distinct from the world, in order that Jesus Christ might be shown before unbelievers around you.

Esther 9

The Jews who were in Susa assembled also on the fourteenth day of the month Adar and killed three hundred men in Susa, but they did not lay their hands on the plunder. Esth 9:15

If you've watched TV, you've heard the classic actor question, "What's my motivation?", which means they want to know what is motivating the character to say and do certain things in the script. In "A Knight's Tale", Rufus Sewell plays the evil knight trying to defeat Heath Ledger's character. There is a scene where Heath is in jail for pretending to be a knight, and Sewell's character comes in to gloat. Sewell does some great acting with his eyes, looking so unsure about how he measures up to Heath, even as his words are saying that Heath is a loser. Sewell said in the DVD commentary, that his motivation for the scene was that it was a chance for Sewell's character to get some measure of victory against the noble character portrayed by Ledger.

The Jews have received permission to defend themselves by an order of the king, and they go on the offensive instead of waiting for their enemies to attack. But, as the Jews gain numerous victories, they do not take any plunder. They defeat their enemies in several cities, and each time the wealth of their enemies remains untouched. That's because the motivation of the Jews wasn't to gain wealth, but to gain safety. Once that had been secured, there was no reason to go any further. What is your motivation in life? Are you motivated by a desire to honor and please God? Do you go where He says go and leave where he says leave? What is your motivation in your marriage, job, and service in your church? Many Christians would claim Jesus as their main motivation, but it doesn't come out in their lives. 

Esther 8

In each and every province and in each and every city, wherever the king's commandment and his decree arrived, there was gladness and joy for the Jews, a feast and a holiday . And many among the peoples of the land became Jews, for the dread of the Jews had fallen on them.  Esth 8:17

I recently heard someone say that they don't like it when a pastor mentions Hell during the invitation time. He thought it was using emotions to try to get a person to make a decision, by scaring them and mentioning Hell. Jesus mentioned Hell more than He ever mentioned Heaven. Was Jesus playing on people's emotions? A professor once said, "Do I try to scare people regarding Hell? You bet I do! It's a scary place and people should be told what will happen if they choose to reject Jesus." I don't want to scare someone into making a decision for Jesus, but I want them to understand the eternal consequences if they don't.

So the plot to destroy the Jews has now been fully reversed. Not only have the Jews been spared, but the king has authorized them to take up arms against anyone who threatens them again. And the Jewish people are excited. They are safe, plus they know that they have the king's favor in the future. It says that many became Jews because the dread of the Jews had fallen on them. The word dread can also mean awe, because outsiders had seen something dramatic and God-powered protect this people. Jews allowed outsiders to come into the fold (remember Rahab?), but they actually went through a process of baptism and acceptance into God's people. So did these people make an emotional decision? To an extent, but the emotions were driven by the reality of who the Jews were. Do you tell people the whole story of Jesus when you witness? Do you talk to them about their sin, and not just about Heaven? Do you just talk about Heaven, or do you make it clear that our sin seperates us from God and will send us to Hell? Don't confuse truth with manipulation. People need to understand the consequences sometimes in order for them to see the benefits. Tell people the whole gospel story. Accepting Jesus is emotional and life-changing.

Esther 7

Then Queen Esther replied, "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me as my petition, and my people as my request; Esth 7:3

There has been a neat transition with my kids. Like most kids, they enjoy snack time as a highlight in their day. My youngest daughter will often ask for a snack, as will my son. But my middle daughter started a new habit a few months ago. She will come and ask me for a snack, and if I say yes, she will often go and ask her brother and sisters if they want a snack too. She could have just had her snack and walked by her siblings showing off her prize, but instead she is willing that her request would benefit all of them. I hope she's that unselfish when there's only one piece of cake left, and Daddy really wants it!

Esther obviously was finding favor with this king. He accepted her when she came without his request. He offered her up to half of his kingdom when she wanted to make a request. Even if all the Jews were killed, it's unlikely that the king would have allowed Esther to perish as well. She could have been overtaken by fear and greed: a fear that the king wouldn't reverse his previous edict, and a greed to accept up to half of his kingdom. But instead, she uses her request as originally decided on and asks for her life to be a petition for her people to be spared. And ultimatley, Haman is hung on the very gallows that anger provoked him to build for Mordecai. What about your requests? Do you consider your needs, wants, and comforts before those of others? Do you put your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors before yourself? God is not unwilling that we should have personal requests. He is unwilling that we should only have personal requests. Pray for others before you pray for yourself. Look to fulfill the needs of others over your own. God desires selflessness over selfishness in our daily lives. 

Esther 6

So Haman came in and the king said to him, "What is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?" And Haman said to himself, "Whom would the king desire to honor more than me?"  Esth 6:6

John Sedgwick was a general for the Union Army during the Civil War. During the battle of Spotsylvania Court House, his officers and staff were constantly ducking as they walked around. Sedgwick became annoyed because he felt his staff were acting cowardly. They responded that the Confederates had sharpshooters about 1000 feet out. Sedgwick replied, "I'm ashamed of you, dodging that way. They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist...", and he fell down dead with a bullet hole under his left eye.

Haman begins to be undone by his own unwise plans, but also by his pride. As he comes in to approve Mordecai's death, the king has just decided that Mordecai deserves to be honored. So when the king is talking to Haman about honoring someone, Haman assumes the honors will be for himself and comes up with the most lavish ceremony he could think of. Then to watch his enemey receive that prize must have been devastating for him. Do you struggle with pride? Let me help you figure it out: do you have a hard time confessing sin? Do you often believe everyone around you is not quite as bright as you are? Are you willing to take the credit everytime it is given? Then you have struggles with pride. God is not getting the glory out of your life, because you're trying to squeeze all the glory out for yourself. Ask God to forgive you today and to realize that anything you are capable of doing, is because of God's work in your life.

Esther 5

"Yet all of this does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate." Esth 5:13

A research study on the "Golden Rule" was done by the Institute for Child Behavior Research. The study found that the happiest people are "those who help others." People in the study were asked to name ten people they knew very well and to describe them as happy or unhappy. Later they went back through that same list and asked the people to describe their ten friends as selfish or unselfish. As you might have guessed, the unselfish people just happened to also be the happy people. The institute director wrote this conclusion: those "whose activities are devoted to bringing themselves happiness...are far less likely to be happy than those whose efforts are devoted to making others happy."

Haman had a real problem. Things seemed to be going his way, but he couldn't be happy as long as things were going well for Mordecai. As a result, Haman designs a way to have Mordecai killed before he has to go to his next feast. Haman assumed the food would taste better and the banquet would be more enjoyable if Mordecai were dead. Have you ever known someone who needed others to be miserable in order for them to be happy? Our condition shouldn't depend on the state of those around us. Perhaps you know someone who seems to dwell in misery more than happiness. Be happy for them, very openly, and help them to see the blessings that exist in their lives. Today, ask that God would give you something that Haman lacked...satisfaction. Ask God to allow you to be content with what you have, so that you will not be dependent on the ups and downs of others to give you satisfaction.

Esther 4

"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?" Esth 4:14 When I was in high school I joined the FFA because when you go to livestock shows, there is more money available to the winners. My brother was in for this reason and so was I, until our advisor came to me and asked me to enter a speaking competition. I had never done public speaking and didn't think it was my thing. He said the winner of the competition in our local chapter got a $100 savings bond, and as of that moment, I was the only participant. So I entered, and won since I was the only one giving the speech. However, this led to more speaking contests and victories, and I firmly believe that God wanted me to do that because as one called into the ministry, public speaking is a huge part of what I do. I would have never realized that God was preparing to use public speaking as a major tool in my life, but now looking back I can see His fingerprints all over the situation. Esther became queen, but it wasn't for any grand purpose. When the king says you're a finalist for queen, you don't just say no. Now she has received disturbing news from her uncle that all the Jews, including her, are on the chopping block. She hestitates to do anything because her life could be in danger by coming before the king without being summoned. Mordecai assures her that either way death is on her doorstep, and that perhaps this is why she is now queen. While this book doesn't mention God by name, His attributes are clearly seen throughout. Plans and purposes are God's thing. He doesn't operate in the random. Do you see how your current position is something God wants to use? Ministry isn't the only "job" that God leads people towards. Wherever you work, that's where God wants to use you. Maybe you're limited in what you can say, but you're not limited in the life you can live in front of others. What about amongst your neighbors? God has placed you in your home for a reason. Are you missing the mission field next door? Realize that your life is not just a bunch of random jumbles, but as a believer that God is working to fulfill a purpose in your life, if you'll let him.

Esther 3

When Haman saw that Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage to him, Haman was filled with rage. Esth 3:5 Rage isn't a word we hear alot. We might admit to becoming angry at times, but rarely would we admit to rage. The word here in verse 5 refers to "burning anger", and I would have to admit that I have suffered from that sinful affliction in my life a time or two. The line between anger and rage is a thin one, and we have to prevent an escalation of sin into rage. Abraham Lincoln, one of my favorite presidents, had a way of moving past his anger. When he needed to write a letter to someone that had severely irritated him, he always wrote two letters. The first was deliberately insulting and often said what he felt. Then he would rip up that letter and write a second one that was more tactful and discreet. He didn't allow his anger to rule him. Haman sure could have used someone to teach him this lesson. Mordecai would not bow to Haman who was clearly a man in charge. Mordecai claimed that because he was a Jew, that he would not bow to Mordecai. The assumption is that Mordecai will only bow in the presence of the Lord, and not for any man. Instead of respecting Mordecai for his convictions, Haman enters intoa rage that extends beyond the man himself and soon consumes Haman with a hatred for an entire race! Do you have areas in your life that have turned into anger and then to rage? Perhaps you feel slighted by someone. Maybe someone has done you a terrible injustice. No matter the issue, when you become consumed by rage, the person that suffers is going to be you. Ask God to release you of your anger, and then make a decision to do so. God helps the willing. Don't ask God to powerfully eliminate sin from your life if you don't plan on being a part of that solution.

Esther 2

Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai who had taken her as his daughter, came to go in to the king, she did not request anything except what Hegai, the king's eunuch who was in charge of the women, advised . And Esther found favor in the eyes of all who saw her. Esth 2:15 I have now lived near minor league baseball teams for a while, and I notice that sometimes they have very good players that have the ability to play at the major league level, but never get called up. The biggest problem for many of these players is that they don't listen. They already know that they are very talented, as a result they aren't very coachable. No matter how good you are, if a manager is concerned you might not listen then he probably doesn't want you. If someone pays you a million dollars, they expect you to listen. Esther certainly wasn't part of the culture of the kingdom she was living in. She was a Jew, but she was being selected as a candidate for queen. She really wasn't sure what to do, so she did the best thing she could...she listened. The king had a servant to help take care of these ladies, and Esther was asking questions, and listening to answers and advice. She didn't pretend that just because she was a potential queen that she would become so. And it becomes clear that God's will was for her to become the new queen. Are you listening to those around you? Do you sometimes assume you already know how to do most things, and miss the wise counsel of others? Make sure that you are taking time to listen. People respect someone who listens more than they talk.

Esther 1

But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. Then the king became very angry and his wrath burned within him. Esth 1:12 Sometimes in our marriage, my wife has to set me straight. She says there have been times when we get around other people, that I don't treat her as well as I should. I am kind of a jokester, and apparently some of the jokes and jabs that I give don't make her feel very special or appreciated. As someone who married way out of his league, that always hurts me to think I treat this special treasure of a wife in a way that is less than she deserves. I had to apologize and ask her to help me care more about my relationship with her than with others. King Ahaserus had a similar problem. He didn't treat his wife as he should. He had been showing off everything in his palace to his party guests, and his wife just became something else to show off. She didn't want to be called as the queen by some of his servants. She wanted to be called as a wife by her husband. Wives you need to help us as husbands to realize when we're being morons and not treating you as you deserve. We might get our feelings hurt, but pray that the Holy Spirit confirms to us the truth of your words. If you are a husband, it's all right to treat your wife like a queen, unless you go the route of Ahaserus. You didn't marry her as a mother, or as a cook, or as anything other than your wife. Those may be her roles, but that's not who she is. Husbands...let us ask forgiveness of our wives and our Lord for how we take our wives for granted. Wives, please forgive us when we ask.

Nehemiah 13

Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem. Neh 13:20 Gary Richmond is a former zookeeper. He had worked a lot with racoons and he knew that at 24 months old, they undergo a glandular change, after which they often attack their owners. Gary was telling a friend who owned a pet racoon about this process, in order to warn her. She said, "It will be different for me. Bandit wouldn't hurt me. He just wouldn't." Three months later, Julie underwent plastic surgery for facial lacerations suffered at the hand of her beloved Bandit. Bandit was released into the wild, and despite hoping for different results, Julie received the predictable results that come with owning an adult racoon. As Nehemiah had been gone taking care of responsibilities to the king, there had been some moral failures in the city he rebuilt. The Sabbath wasn't being properly observed. It probably had more to do with the forcefulness of these outside merchants than the desire of the Jews to break the Sabbath. After Nehemiah returns, those merchants were put out before the Sabbath, and the door to the city was closed. However, those merchants remained outside, just in case an opportunity afforded itself to get themselves back in. You'll notice that Nehemiah didn't allow the merchants to remove themselves. He knew the result would be predictable and that the people would allow the Sabbath to be profained once more. Once those merchants realized they were being put out for the Sabbath, they gave up. When you stand up to sin in your life, do so forcefully! Don't just say, "I better stop that", but take steps to stop. Stop going there. Stop watching that. Stop clicking that. Stop being alone there. Remember that like the merchants, sin is often just outside the gates. Be diligent against it in your life.

Nehemiah 12

So all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah gave the portions due the singers and the gatekeepers as each day required, and set apart the consecrated portion for the Levites, and the Levites set apart the consecrated portion for the sons of Aaron. Neh 12:47 I was listening to the radio one day and it was a show about how to handle money and debt. A pastor’s wife called in, and was asking some questions about whether they should sell their car. The host asked if they were doing it to try to get out of debt. She said that they just couldn’t pay any of their bills. The church gave them a house to live in, and then paid her husband $100 a week. He wasn’t permitted to work any other job, and that was the situation they were in. The husband wouldn’t call in because he felt like he needed to trust God more in the situation. The host said, “This is not an indictment on God’s provision, but on the church’s.” He said that the pastor should go directly to the financial people of the church and demand a raise, or he should leave so he could care for his family. No other ministries of the church should be funded until the pastor has been provided for. Here as the story of Nehemiah wraps up, we again see an important aspect of Jewish life. The people were giving, and as they did so, the priests and ministers of the temple were being provided for. As offerings were given, the Levites took care of the initial receiving of that offering. Then they were responsible for providing portions to the priests in taking care of them. The priests didn’t have to come to the Levites looking for what they were to receive. The priests always received exactly what the Lord had commanded be set apart for them, and they were never short-changed in the service of the Lord. How are you acting towards your ministers? Are you working to provide for their needs? Are they made to feel like employees of the church? Instead of asking how little you can get away with, instead attempt to see how much you can bless them.

Nehemiah 11

And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. Neh 11:2 When I was in sixth grade, Desert Storm was the war of my generation. It didn’t really prepare us for what war would really be like, because our military had gone in and dominated the Iraqi military in quick fashion. Our school was close to a local military base, so we were taken by bus to a main street leading into the base as the soldiers came home. There were hundreds, if not thousands of people lining that road as troop transports, tanks, and other military vehicles rolled in. People were waving flags and signs and cheering their appreciation to these soldiers who had fought for us. I’m sure there were times the fight was tough, but those men certainly seemed to swell with pride as they received such a warm welcome home. When people take on a tough assignment, it can be eased when others acknowledge it. Now that Jerusalem was rebuilt, they had to get people to live in it. Many that had come to work on the wall had lived in other cities outside of Jerusalem. This rebuilt city was not suddenly a safe place because of the wall. Those outside still wanted to see that wall come back down and to continue their attacks that had destroyed it in the first place. It sounds like many people were willing to live in the city, so they had to cast lots to narrow down the volunteers. Those volunteers were blessed by the people for their willingness to continue the work of rebuilding the city beyond the wall. Who do you need to bless for their volunteer spirit? Do you give to the work of missionaries in your denomination? Do you thank the people who work gladly in the nursery of your church? What about the custodians who clean up with little thought of recognition? Find someone in your church family who is a volunteer, and bless them with some form of encouragement today.

Nehemiah 10

and that we will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons. Neh 10:30 “I’m not what you would call a handsome man.” I felt that quote applied to me growing up. No matter how much interest I took in girls, they rarely took interest in me. My first date was to my senior prom. When I talked to her I asked her the all-important question, “Are you a Christian?” When she confirmed that she was and even went to church, I thought that meant that the relationship would have God’s blessings. Later I learned that being “equally yoked” doesn’t just refer to believers and unbelievers, but also finding a Christian who has the same devotion to the Lord that you have. That’s what I have in my wife Nikki. I remember taking her to meet my parents and they loved her right away. I told my dad one day that I was going to ask Nikki to marry me. He said that he and mom had been praying for my future wife long ago, and that they both felt confident that Nikki was a woman who loved God. That shocked me. I had no idea they would pray for such a thing, but they wanted to be a help to me when one day I committed to spend the rest of my life with someone. As Israel signed their covenant before God, one of the things they committed to was to keep their sons and daughters from marrying unbelievers. Does this mean that God desires for arranged marriages? Absolutely not, but He does expect parents to parent their children right up the moment they leave the house. I’ve heard of parents who said that they knew their son or daughter was marrying someone that was going to cause them problems later in life, and they were right. I try to think of why a child would ignore that counsel? Most likely, the parent approached the situation as “putting their foot down” and telling their child that they did not approve of the marriage. If you have a child how can you steer them to the right mate for their life? Pray for them as my parents prayed for me. Nine years later I have a beautiful, faithful, and loving wife that I would never trade in for anyone, and I have the prayers of my parents to thank for helping to lead us together. Teach them to stop looking for the right mate, but to be the right mate. We attract what we advertise for. Our children don’t have to live like monks to attract a godly spouse, but they should live like they love Jesus. And if you’re child begins to show interest or start a relationship with someone you feel they shouldn’t, then lovingly ask the child how the relationship is going and remind them of the standards that God has for a loving and lasting marriage.

Nehemiah 9

"So You made known to them Your holy sabbath, and laid down for them commandments, statutes and law, through Your servant Moses. Neh 9:14 It was a beautiful Sunday morning, and the pastor woke up and decided, “I’m not going to church today.” So he called his associate pastor and claimed that he wasn’t feeling well, and that the associate would have to preach that morning. Straightaway, the pastor took off for the golf course and found there wasn’t a soul around. An angel in Heaven was watching this scene play out and asked God, “Aren’t you going to do anything about that man?” God didn’t say a word. The pastor got on the first tee and hit the best shot of his life! The ball hit the green rolled, rolled, rolled, right into the cup. It was a hole in one! The angel said, “Lord, how could you let him get a hole-in-one when he’s skipping out on worship.” The Lord looked at the angel and said, “Who’s he going to tell?” This is an old joke, but one of my favorites and it helps to make my point this morning. Why do we have a Sabbath? Why is there a day set aside for us to worship the Lord as our primary purpose? Here in Nehemiah we see the people move from repentance to remembrance. The people were previously weeping over their sin, and we found that once repentance comes, the tears can cease! God has forgiven the repentant believer. Now the priests are recounting the history of Israel to these people as a reminder to never allow the banishment from Jerusalem happen again. They remembered their history to remind them how to serve God in their future. So why do we have a Sabbath? Because God in His wisdom knew that selfish humanity would need the encouragement. Everyday should see God as our priority, however in our selfishness, we can often prioritize ourselves above the Lord. Even as a minister, I can tell you there are times I wake up on a Sunday and don’t feel like doing the “church thing”. That’s when I remember that this is for the Lord. He didn’t rest because He was tired on the seventh day. He set that day aside so that in my worst week, I would have that time to refocus myself on His goodness and mercy to me. How is your attitude about Sunday? Do you go to church but fail to worship? Are you willing to miss church for just about any excuse? Remember that when we come together to worship, we are reminded of our personal history by the Holy Spirit. He reminds us what we were without Jesus, and we commit ourselves to never be that person again.

Nehemiah 8

Then Nehemiah, who was the governor , and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. Neh 8:9 When I share the gospel with a lost person, I never know what kind of response I’ll get. I might be dealing with someone who has thought very little about God, or someone who grew up in Christian home and never made his own decision. More than once though, I have seen people who knew they needed Jesus and His forgiveness, but they just didn’t believe it was possible for their lives. I can’t say it’s very surprising that a lost person would feel this way, but I meet more and more Christians who feel the exact same thing. Somehow the church is not clearly teaching the doctrines of grace and mercy in Jesus. Grace and mercy are about avoiding what we deserve because we have placed our lives, faith and hope in Jesus Christ. Sin is no longer our detractor. Satan no longer accuses us with merit. We have been covered in the blood of Jesus, and that blood will never lose it’s power to cleanse you of your sin. The people of Israel certainly know what I’m talking about. Many had been away from home for many years and heard no Scripture in that time. Now they have come back and some are hearing the Law for the very first time. It causes them to mourn and weep as they realize that they are no better than the Israel that strayed from God in the desert after being spared from Egypt. However, Nehemiah and Ezra tell the people that the only tears that should flow are tears of happiness. If you hear the words of Scripture and they bring you to understand that you’re a sinner, that’s a good thing! We need to remember, even as long-term Christians, that we are sinners. Our sin is no longer counted against us, but it can still bring difficulties and consequences to our life. When you find yourself remembering who you were before Christ, or remembering a major sinful failing since you began walking with Christ, remember that Jesus loves you no more or less than He did when you said “yes” to Him. His forgiveness still remains. If we could out-sin the grace of God, then that would mean that we hold onto salvation by our own work, and not by the work of Christ. The Bible teaches we are saved by grace through faith. Have you thanked Jesus today that your sin is no longer on your account by His blood?

Nehemiah 7

Now the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few and the houses were not built. Neh 7:4 I was in a church one time that had a major space problem. We were growing, but we were moving a little slow on handling the problem. I was working with youth, and after moving to three different rooms to accommodate all the students, the church finally began talking about building a family ministry center with a basketball court and some new classrooms. It became clear after a while that people didn’t really understand why we were building this. I talked about having the building open at different times to provide a place for people in our poor community a place to go and have fun in a safe environment. Some vocal people didn’t see why we would open it up like that, because the building might begin to suffer damage with all these visitors. They thought the building would magically grow the youth group, which it wouldn’t, but they were content to think it would sit empty on 5 of the 7 days of the week. Nehemiah and the people in Jerusalem had accomplished something great. The wall of the city was up in less than two months, and there stood a city that the people of Israel could call home. The only problem was, there weren’t many people living in it. Some had not come back from the exile, and many continued to live in their new areas outside of Jerusalem. The project was worth it, but they had to find ways to help people benefit from the project. Churches need to think in much the same manner. There is hardly a church in the country that doesn’t have some kind of building plan in mind. But what is the purpose of your church expansion? Is it the hope that more space will equal more members? Because that’s not a guarantee. Is your church willing to use the space to really reach out to people? Some churches have invested in computers to make their fellowship halls into tutoring areas for low-income students. Some churches open up their gyms to give students a safe place to hang out and play after school. Churches that sit empty during the week are missing their chance to minister to the community and show unbelievers that we want more for their lives than for them to attend church. We want to plug them into the Kingdom of God and into the life of our church. Is there a community ministry that your church could/should be doing?

Nehemiah 6

So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. Neh 6:15 I took our teenagers on a mission trip to Evansville, Indiana a few years ago. The purpose of the week was to help those who were living in sub-standard housing and to improve the residents living conditions. My group was given a project to put siding on a two story house that was very large, but in very bad condition. We had 4 adults and 8 teenagers and there was no way. The day before we were supposed to finish, several crew chiefs from other projects came over and had a “siding party”. Their projects had been smaller and were done already, so they came to help us complete our work. From day one I thought there was no way we were going to finish, but at the end I was pleased to see it had happened despite my doubts. The rebuilding of Jerusalem was similar. As people finished their wall projects, they went to go help those who were still working. You’re not talking about a bunch of wall builders. These were just ordinary people, led by a few experienced hands, and they worked like crazy and finshed the wall in less than two months. I’m sure that when they arrived, some were suddenly less excited having now seen the dilapidated wall that was waiting for them. I’m sure others worked as much as they griped. But, fifty-two days later, the wall was up and done. Why? Because people didn’t just take responsibility for their small project, but for the project as a whole. Do you need to start investing in other projects of the church? Thank you if you have been working in Sunday School, VBS, or another area. But do you see a ministry that is short on help and long on needs? Do you have the time and ability to invest?

Nehemiah 5

I consulted with myself and contended with the nobles and the rulers and said to them, "You are exacting usury, each from his brother!" Therefore, I held a great assembly against them. Neh 5:7 I am sickened to see the continued glut of fast cash stores across our country. They advertise that you can walk in with a personal check, even if you don’t have any money in your account, they will give you money. This kind of advanced borrowing is just killing families finances across our country. They overspend and then when their real paycheck comes in, they owe it to the cash store plus 25% interest in some cases. I don’t know how cash stores can justify what they do. They claim they are providing an important service to people. However, you don’t see these stores in the nice areas of town. They are targeting the poor and enticing them to live above their actual lifestyle. As Americans, and simply as human beings, taking advantage of someone in this way is despicable. Even when I was desperate for a job, I refused to consider working for one of these places. Nehemiah felt a similar disgust with how people were treating each other financially. You had some people who were in positions of power established by Babylon or were merchants and as a result had wealth despite the difficulties Israel was going through. These people were charging such outrageous interest that people were mortgaging all their possessions just to eat. Nehemiah comes before these wealthy lenders and tells them that they are doing wrong. Is he being judgmental? Is he communist? No, but he is for Christians treating each other fairly and not taking advantage of one another. These lenders not only stop the practice, but they also give the people’s stuff back to them. Are you taking advantage of someone? Treat your brothers and sisters in Christ as your family. Don’t use them or take advantage of them. If your church uses your expertise in an area, work as hard for them as you would any other client or boss. Show a Christian example in the way you work and care for others.

Nehemiah 4

"At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us." Neh 4:20 Holes in church ministry usually happen because people believe they are not fully equipped to do what is asked. A youth Sunday School teacher is needed, but the position goes unfilled because an available person doesn’t know if they can connect with youth. More people are needed for church outreach, but available people don’t respond because they don’t think they can clearly explain the gospel to people (I worry if you say you’re a Christian, and you also say you can’t explain the gospel). My pastor in Arkansas used to make a statement for moments like that. “The most important ability we have is availability.” If you have time to devote to a ministry need, ask God to give you the wisdom to find an area to plug into and the ability to work successfully in that ministry. As the wall of Jerusalem is going up, Sanballat and others from outside the nation of Israel didn’t like what they were seeing. I wouldn’t be surprised if these men helped burn the walls, essentially kicking Jerusalem while she was down. But, now the city was rising up again and the threats didn’t work. They were going to show force and physically stop the rebuilding process. In response, Israel worked with a hammer in one hand and a weapon in the other. I’m sure that some of these had never fought in a real battle, but they were ready to respond if they heard the trumpet. Nehemiah made it clear that if they would respond to the battle call, God would do the fighting for them. They just needed to be available. Where do you need to be available? Is there a place of service that you already know you need to step in? Is there something more that you need to be doing in a current place of service? Ask God to help you be completely available to Him, and that His Holy Spirit would prepare you and excite you to fully serve God as He calls.

Nehemiah 3

Moreover, next to him the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not support the work of their masters. Neh 3:5 I’ve always been interested in politics, and I used to want to run for President until I entered college. Our two Presidential candidates have each worked for the same purpose…to make the other guy look out of touch. McCain has called Obama a celebrity, but in our celebrity crazy society, I’m not sure that works against him. Obama has criticized McCain for not knowing how many houses he owns. Instead of playing it as McCain is too old to remember stuff, Obama paints him as out of touch with Americans who are just trying to keep the one home they have. These two men are giving the impression they are just like you, and they want to roll up their sleeves and work alongside you to fix our country. The Tekoites were Jews that were living outside the walls of Jerusalem in Tekoa. However, they were willing to come to Jerusalem for the benefit of the nation and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. As they came, their leaders refused to submit themselves to those in charge of the rebuilding. Those masters were not nobles, but just wise men who were likely installed in their positions by Nehemiah. These nobles refused to work, probably so they didn’t lose any symbols of their power among their people. However, by working alongside of them, the people would have seen that they were being ruled by someone who really cared about them. To hold a title is an easy thing, but to glorify God with your title is harder. Are you a Sunday School teacher, deacon, minister, or other ministry leader? Are you happy to plan, but unwilling to help? Church cleanup days are for everyone. Youth lock-in volunteers don’t have to be parents. How are you working alongside those in your church?

Nehemiah 2

Then the king said to me, "What would you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven. Neh 2:4 The story is told of the Protestant reformer, Martin Luther, as he met with other reformers for prayer. The men were going around a circle as they prayed out loud, and each in turn. One of the men in the circle prayed as if he would never stop. After about 15 minutes of listening, Luther looked up and said to the man, “Brother, God stopped listening five minutes ago.” Apparently the man was just talking more than praying, and it was clear that he wasn’t genuinely praying about anything. Contrary to popular belief, prayer is not made effective by its length but by its sincerity. I’ve always appreciated this verse of Scripture. Nehemiah has a request in mind, but now the king has actually asked him what it is. Nehemiah wants to make sure that he doesn’t miss anything that needs to be said, and so he prays. It couldn’t have been a very long prayer, and not uttered out loud, but it was a sincere prayer that probably asked God for wisdom in the answer. And wisdom comes out. Nehemiah doesn’t just get permission for the trip, but asks for letters of protection and other aspects to help in the rebuilding process. Have you ever wanted to pray for something, but didn’t because you couldn’t devote much time to the prayer? I have, and I’ve learned over time that it’s the sincerity of relying on God that validates our prayer to God. It doesn’t grant answering in the way we always want, but it does grant that God will hear it. If you’re entire prayer life is only made up of these short and desperate prayers, that indicates you are not taking the time you need with God.

Nehemiah 1

They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand. Neh 1:10 When I was in college, I traveled around with a singing group that was in different churches every weekend. As a result, we spent a lot of time together and developed close friendships. Sometimes a member of the group might get to talking about themselves for a little too long and soon someone would give the comment, “It’s all about Andy”, or “It's all about Alisa.” The comment was a reminder not to talk about yourself too much, and to change the subject if your subject was constantly you. I’ve always been moved by Nehemiah’s prayer for the desperate situation Jerusalem was in. Nehemiah lumped himself in with the sins of all the people as he pleaded for God’s forgiveness and grace. Here in verse 10, we see who this is really about. Nehemiah wasn’t just pleading for some random people. Nehemiah keeps emphasizing God in this sentence. God’s servants, God’s people, God’s redemption, God’s great power, God’s strong hand. In every instance, Nehemiah was emphasizing and recognizing God’s role from start to finish. He was asking for God to be God more than praying that the people would be strengthened for the task. Do you completely recognize God’s power and working in your life? All your gifts and abilities have come from Him. When you take credit for something that God has done in you, and you give no glory to Him, you have failed the gospel. When people see you, they should in turn glorify the God who is working in you.