Nehemiah 10:39 (ESV)
For the people of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of grain, wine, and oil to the chambers, where the vessels of the sanctuary are, as well as the priests who minister, and the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not neglect the house of our God.”
The last line is the theme for most of this section of Nehemiah. We are not to neglect the house of our God. Today that house is the Body of Christ. Nehemiah was sent back to Jerusalem to build the city walls. Ezra was sent back to assure that the Temple was rebuilt. Zerubbable was sent back to rebuild the hearts of the people. All of them had the desire to not neglect the house of our God. We are to do the same for today’s church. Not the physical building (although certainly making sure our properties are a reflection of our relationship with God), but our relationship with God, through the provision of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. We are to be diligent in that endeavor and not neglect it. Notice was Paul said to young pastor Timothy:
1 Timothy 4:14 (ESV)
Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.
2 Timothy 1:6 (ESV)
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,
We are to be diligent, just as Nehemiah, to not neglect what God has given us. We are His house:
Hebrews 3:6 (ESV)
but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
No comments:
Post a Comment