SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 READINGS... Nehemiah 8:13-10:39
As Ezra continues to read the and study the law he discovers that the people had neglected the feasts that the Lord had given to them. In this case it was the Feast of Tabernacles. So, the people observed that feast in that year. The people come together in fasting, and sack cloth and ashes to confess their sins. They did this by remembering the goodness of God toward Israel…and at every turn Israel sinned in rebellion against God. The people decided that they would put in writing their solemn promise to repent and walk the way of the Lord. They made five promises to God. And though I believe they were sincere; the nation did not keep these promises for very long. A lesson that we cannot make promises for others, nor are we always faithful in the promises we make.
Please share your thoughts from today’s short reading. I remind you that it is God who is The Promise Keeper. Only God walks in complete integrity. On our own we will break our promises…we do it all the time. We need the Holy Spirit to empower us to walk as people of integrity, and keep our commitments and promises that we make. It is better for us to say we will do something if the Lord wills, as James tells us in his Epistle (James 4:15). We need to repent of our rebellion against God, and surrender to His will and the control of the Holy Spirit, that we may walk as the people of God…with integrity and not hypocrisy.
Please share your thoughts from today’s reading.
TOMORROW’S READINGS… Nehemiah 11:1-12:26 &1 Chronicles 9:1b-34