Mon.’s Devo - Prayer For Righteousness

Read: Nehemiah 9:22-10:39; 1 Corinthians 9:19-10:13; Psalm 34:1-10; Proverbs 21:13 The priest continued his prayer acknowledging God’s goodness and repenting of their rebellion. He concluded that they were slaves in their own land through no fault but their own. The people wanted to put in writing their allegiance to the Lord. It was ratified and sealed with the names of the governors, priests, Levites and leaders. The rest of the people bound themselves with an oath to obey the Lord with all their hearts. They promised not to let their daughters marry pagan men or let their sons marry pagan women. They also promised not to work on the Sabbath and to let the land rest every seventh year. They would pay the annual Temple tax of one-eighth of an ounce of silver to keep the Temple operating. And, they promised to bring their first fruits to the Lord for the priests and Levites. In essence they promised not to neglect God’s Temple. In Corinthians, Paul explained that he kept his personal temple in operation. His personal temple was his heart. Paul never lived to himself on the earth, he was always sacrificing his wants for the people he was with. He bloomed wherever God planted him. He kept his physical temple, his body, free of sin and evil. He knew that God is faithful and would not allow him to be tempted over what he could stand and would always make a way out so he could endure. Everyone has sinned, but once we come to Jesus, he can clean up our temple and give us a new heart that doesn’t want to sin if we submit ourselves to him. He gives us his grace that empowers us not to sin. Lord, thank you for your ways that are higher than ours. Thank you for your grace that gives us the power not to sin. May we choose the way out and not sin against you.