Mon.’s Devo - Residents of Jerusalem 8-16-21

Read: Nehemiah 11:1-12:26; 1 Corinthians 10:14-33; Psalm 34:11-22; Proverbs 21:14-16 The residents of Jerusalem were either chosen by lots or volunteered. A tenth were chosen by sacred lots to leave their cities and come and live in Jerusalem. Many leaders chose to come and live in Jerusalem but many people, priests, Levites, Temple servants and descendants of Solomon’s servants continued to live in their own towns in Judah. A list is given of all the people by name that came to live in Jerusalem. They were commended for coming. A list was given of all the leaders of families that came while Joiakim was high priest. A record was taken of the Levite families during the service of the next few high priests: Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan,and Jaddua. This might seem unimportant to us, but it is like our names written in the Book of Life. These records validated their bloodlines and their rights to the priesthood just as our names written in God’s Book of Life qualifies us as sons of God and all the rights as heirs to Christ. Paul told the Corinthians to flee from idol worship. Idol worship is the worship of demons and you can’t serve Satan and God at the same time. Apparently they were taking of the Lord’s supper and also worshipping idols. They thought that grace covered them and allowed them to do anything they wanted but that is not what grace is. They also questioned him about going to someone’s house to eat when they suspected the food they were serving was food they also offered to idols. Paul said to eat what was put before you without question, but if they tell you it is offered to idols, then you have to make a decision if it will hurt others convictions or not. He explained that sometimes we have to forfeit doing things because it hinders someone else’s convictions. We refrain from doing it for love of that person, not because we are convicted ourselves. That is just considering others above ourselves. Lord, thank you that you have our names written in your eternal Book of Life. Thank you that we are spiritual residents of Jerusalem.