Mon.’s Devo - Armed and Dangerous

Read: Nehemiah 3:15-5:13; 1 Corinthians 7:25-40; Psalm 32:1-11; Proverbs 21:5-7 Every family repaired the wall and gates around their own houses. Some like Baruch were so zealous he repaired the section for himself and for the high priest. *** When Sanballat found out they were successfully rebuilding the wall he was most upset. He mocked the Jews and tried to discourage them. His friend, Tobiah said that the wall would collapse if a fox walked on top of it. *** Nehemiah prayed that God would hear their mocking and let their words fall back on their own heads. He asked God not to ignore their guilt or blot our their sins. *** Finally, the wall was completed up to a half of its height. All the gaps were filled in. When Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard the gaps were all being repaired they were furious. They made plans to come and fight them and stop the work, but Nehemiah and the people of Israel prayed and guarded the city around the clock. *** The people began to tire of all the work. They kept hearing of the threats of the enemy of war. The Jews who lived closest to their enemies reported their threats so Nehemiah placed armed guards at the lowest parts of the wall to stand while they worked. *** Nehemiah called all the people together and charged them not to be afraid of the enemy because God was with them. They returned to work on the wall with a tool in one hand and a weapon in the other. Nehemiah patrolled the wall carrying a trumpet. When he saw trouble he would blow the trumpet and all would know to come and help. The whole community did their part to finish the work. *** During this time, some of the men and women protested that their fellow Jews were charging them interest on loans they were having to make to feed their children. This made Nehemiah angry at the Jews for charging their own people interest on loans. He shamed them and told them to repay the interest they had charged. They repented and payed them back. He told them if they didn’t repay them God would shake them out of their own property and homes. *** They all responded with an “Amen”. *** In Corinth, Paul continued talking about families. To understand Paul’s advice we need to understand the situation of their day. Corinth was a city of sexual perversion and prostitutes. There were over a thousand professional prostitutes at their “Temple” of their god, Venus. She was the goddess of licentious love. This spirit spilled into the church and many converts were from this worship. *** Paul was trying to get them to focus on their marriages but most importantly on the marriage they had with Christ. He encouraged them to be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. He was trying to teach them to not make decisions based on their passions but based on patience and waiting on God’s will. *** Lord, may we patiently wait for your salvation. May we be salt and light in this dark world. May we fight a good fight of faith armed with the Word and the power of the Holy Spirit.