Wed.’s Devo - We Live For Eternity

Read: Nehemiah 7:61-9:21; 1 Corinthians 9:1-18; Psalm 33:12-22; Proverbs 21:11-12
As the people came to Jerusalem to be a part of the celebration they found that some of them had not been written in the registry as being Jewish so they were not allowed to live in Jerusalem. The ones who said they were priests but whose names were not found were not allowed to move in that office. This was a picture of the final day of judgment when everyone will have to have their name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life to enter into heaven.
Much silver and gold and other things were given to the Lord for his work. This is a picture of when we will throw our crowns at his feet.
The people settled in Jerusalem and in the seventh month on the first day (which was Feast of Trumpets - the day Jesus will return to the earth), Ezra brought forth the law and read it to the people. Every knee bowed before the Law as every knee will bow before Jesus the Word of God on that final day.
As Ezra read the law, the Levites explained its meaning to the people and taught them so they could understand. The people began to cry as they realized how badly they had transgressed the law. Nehemiah stood and told the people not to mourn for this was the day of celebration, not mourning.
I think this is a great picture of what it will be like as we hear the truth and realize how much we fell short of following God’s word but he will wipe away every tear and want us to rejoice because our name is written in the Book.
On the second day they were read about the Feast of Tabernacles which was coming in a few days. They went to cut down branches to make their booths so they could celebrate the feast correctly. The Feast of Tabernacles lasted 7 days and on the last day there was a day of fasting and confessing their sins and repenting of them. In the end, the Levites stood and prayed a long prayer of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord who had forgiven them of so much and done so much for them.
In Corinthians, Paul was having to validate his own ministry as an apostle. To be an apostle you must have seen Jesus with your own eyes. Paul had not seen Jesus with his own eyes while he walked the earth, but Jesus had appeared to him in his resurrected form on the way to Damascus. Paul said that his followers and converts were the seal of his ministry. He was never paid as a minister but worked to support himself. He was proud to have done that but didn’t believe this was the way it should be. He believed that ministers should be paid as that was their work. He was not complaining because he knew that everything he had done would have its reward in heaven and that was where he wanted it.
Lord, may we have Paul’s attitude that our lives mean nothing here on earth, but our reward is waiting in heaven. It is our honor to work now.