Sun.’s Devo - The Return

Read: Nehemiah 9:22-10:39; 1 Corinthians 9:19-10:13; Psalm 34:1-10; Proverbs 21:13 The story continued as the leaders reminded the Israelites of their history and all God had done for them. They told of the nations of the earth that God had conquered for them and given them their possessions and their land. But as soon as they were at peace, the people turned to sin and God let their enemies conquer them. When they cried out to the Lord, he rescued them. This viscous cycle continued over and over. That is where they were right now - under the rule of evil people who enslaved them. They all joined in an oath to obey the Law of God given by Moses and repent. They promised not to let their daughters marry the men of pagan people, not to do business on the Sabbath, to let the land rest and cancel all debts in the seventh year, and to pay the annual Temple tax for the care of the Temple. They scheduled a rotation of bringing wood to keep the fire burning on the altar and promised to bring the first fruits of their labor and their first born sons to the Lord. In Corinthians, Paul explained his life. Everything he did was to bring others to Christ. When he was with the Jews he honored their convictions and when he was with the Gentiles he enjoyed their freedoms with them. He obeyed the law of Christ which was to love God and others. He warned them not to be enticed back into sin like the Israelites were who traveled through the wilderness. They had been brought out of slavery and a land full of idol worship yet many of them returned to sin of their own free will. God is faithful and will not allow the temptations we face to be more than we can withstand. He always shows us a way out. He is our way of escape. Lord, help us to walk upright and without blame in this world.