Wed.’s Devo - The Feast of Tabernacles

Read: Nehemiah 7:73b-9:21; 1 Corinthians 9:1-18; Psalm 33:12-22; Proverbs 21:11-12 On the first day of the seventh month, the people gathered just inside the Water Gate to hear the the Book of the Law being read. This was the day of the Feast of Trumpets. Ezra led the people in praise and agreement to the Law. The Levites read it and explained what it meant. Ezra and Nehemiah also interpreted its meaning. The people were sad to hear of how they and their ancestors had not honored the Lord or obeyed him. Nehemiah told the people not to be sad, because today was to be a day of celebration and joy. *** The next day they read that this was the month to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles where they were to build booths from certain branches and live in them for seven days. So the people went out and gathered the branches and built their booths for their families. *** They gathered again to celebrate that feast. The people fasted and repented as they listened to the words read from the Law. The Levites recalled to them the story of their history and how Moses led them out of slavery and Egypt and supplied their needs in the wilderness. He gave them water from a rock and manna from heaven. They lacked nothing and their clothes did not wear out and their feet didn’t swell. *** In Corinth, Paul was defending the preachers of the gospel. They were no different than farmers who worked hard in their fields. They deserved to eat the produce of their work. In the same way the preachers of God’s Word deserved compensation for their work from the church. 
 *** Paul made it clear to them that he had a secular job and didn’t ever ask for them to support him, but it was right to pay their spiritual leaders. *** Lord, help us to pay attention to what you are paying attention to. May we serve our leaders in our churches and may we also use our talents in the world that you rule.

Tues.’s Devo - The Wall is Completed

Read: Nehemiah 5:14-7:73a: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Psalm 33:1-11; Proverbs 21:8-10 The entire time Nehemiah was the governor of Judah, he didn’t receive his allowance for food and wine. He paid out of his own pocket to feed150 Jewish officials and any visiting officials. The governor before him had put heavy burdens on the people but, Nehemiah couldn’t do it. He asked God to remember what he had done for his people. *** Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and their followers found out that the gaps and been filled and and the gates were built. All that was left to do was to set the doors in the gates. These men plotted to draw Nehemiah away from his city and kill him but Nehemiah refused to meet with them. They sent five letters asking for a meeting and Nehemiah refused them all. Next, they tried sending a false prophet to tell him that he should hide in the Temple because they were coming to kill him. He refused to run in fear. Once again, Nehemiah prayed that God would see all they were doing to intimidate him. *** On the 25th day of Elul, the wall was finished. It had only taken them 52 days. When their enemies found out, they were the ones who were afraid and intimidated. They saw that God had helped the Jews. *** Nehemiah set up times when the gates would be open and when they would be shut. He stationed guards at the gates and around the city. *** A list had been made of all the exiles who returned to Israel and it totaled around fifty thousand people. They brought gifts to the Nehemiah for the work of the Lord and to set up the priests to sacrifice and worship the Lord. *** Paul makes the point that eating food offered to idols offends some but if you don’t give idols any power then there is nothing to worry about. You can eat whatever you want, but if you are with someone who this offends, then you need to put them first. It’s the living that are important, not some dead idol. Paul just warned them not to let their freedom cause another believer to sin. Perception is belief and belief is faith. The spiritual world on both sides is fueled by faith. *** Lord, may we put our faith in you and you alone. May we live our lives to serve you and others above ourselves.

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.

Sun.’s Devo - Building the Wall

Read: Nehemiah 1:1-3:14; 1 Corinthians 7:1-24; Psalm 31:19-24; Proverbs 21:4 Nehemiah was the cup bearer to King Artexerxes. His name means “God comforts”. *** Nehemiah was a devout Jew who learned from some of the Jews who had returned from the province of Judah that Judah was in trouble. Her wall had been torn down and the gates had been burned by fire. Nehemiah was devastated. He fasted and prayed for months. *** By the spring, in the month of Passover, Nehemiah could no longer hide his concern. The king asked him why he was so sad and he told him about Jerusalem. When the king asked how he could help, Nehemiah asked if he could go and rebuild the city. The king asked him how long he would be gone and we are not told his response but he ended up being gone 12 years. The king gave him permission as well as letters and an army escort. *** When he came to the governors of the province he delivered the king’s letters to them. Sanballat and Tobia were officials who were upset that someone had arrived to help the Jews. *** Nehemiah went straight to Jerusalem by night and examined the walls and the gates. He then went to the city officials and told them why he was there. The officials were willing to get to work, but Sanballat and Tobia tried to stir up trouble for them. Nehemiah told Sanballat and Tobia that God would help them succeed and they had no share, legal right or historic claim in Jerusalem. *** Eliashib, the high priest led with example and along with the priests. They began rebuilding their part of the wall. People built what was near them. Some refused to work with the construction supervisors, others had great attitudes and did whatever needed to be done. Some worked with their daughters. They rebuilt the wall and set up the gates with bolts and bars. *** In the church in Corinth, sexual sin was rampant. Paul told them they should each have one spouse and that was enough. Paul, himself was single and satisfied so they should be satisfied with one wife or one husband. He told the husbands not to leave their wives and vice versa. Even if the spouse is an unbeliever if they agree to stay married, then they should stay with them. The believing spouse brings holiness into the marriage which will spill over to the children. But, if the unbelieving spouse wants to leave then they should be allowed to leave. If they choose to stay then there is a great possibility they may be saved also. *** He encouraged them to continue to live in whatever situation the Lord placed them in because it was the Lord who called them. *** What a great word for us. Our lives are our testimony of Christ and we are called to take up our cross and follow him. He didn’t say it would be easy. In fact, he told us to fellowship with him in our sufferings as he fellowshipped with his Father in his. *** Lord, we are grateful for our lives and the fact that you know us and where we are. Help us to fellowship with you in the midst of our sufferings and use it to further your gospel of love.

Sat.’s Devo - Righting their Wrongs

Read: Ezra 10:1-44; 1 Corinthians 6:1-20; Psalm 31:9-18; Proverbs 21:3 As Ezra was interceding and weeping over the sins of the nation, other people joined him. Shecaniah came to him and confessed that they had been unfaithful to God for marrying pagan women of the land. He came up with a plan for them to divorce them and asked Ezra to help them in doing this. *** Ezra got up off his knees and demanded that the people and the priests swear that they would do this. When they did he got up and went to the room of Jehohanan, the priest and spent the night fasting. *** A proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should come to Jerusalem within three days. If them didn’t they would forfeit all their property and be expelled from the assembly of the exiles. *** All the people came on the twelfth day of the ninth month. It was December so it was cold and raining. They stood outside while Ezra told them their sin. They agreed to repent and divorce their wives and separate themselves from their pagan women. They worked on this for the next three months. By the first day of the first month they had completed it. The fourteenth day of that month would be Passover. *** In Corinthians, Paul told them how to handle disputes among believers. They were not to file legal lawsuits against other believers but handle it in the church. It is a terrible witness to the world when Christians sue one another. *** Paul even went on to tell them to let them cheat you because God is the one who judges in the end. The guilty ones will not inherit the Kingdom of God. *** Paul was especially strong in his preaching against sexual sins since this was a sin against your own body that was suppose to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. That was why Ezra was so upset that they had married pagan women. When we are joined to God, we are one spirit with him and we should have no other gods. *** Lord, may we honor you with our bodies. May we rid ourselves of wrong thoughts and anything that robs us from our inheritance with Christ.

Fri.’s Devo - True Repentance

Read: Ezra 8:21-9:15; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; Psalm 31:1-8; Proverbs 21:1-2 Ezra was asked to lead this great exodus of exile from Babylon to Jerusalem and to carry millions of dollars worth of silver and gold. He had the people fast and pray for a safe journey because he was ashamed to ask the king to send soldiers with them to protect them. He had to put his trust in the Lord to keep them safe. They would be traveling through areas known for attacking people and robbing them. *** Ezra appointed 12 leaders of the priests to be in charge of transporting all the silver and gold and precious objects. They were to present them to the priests as the Temple and have them weigh them again. *** They left on the 12th day of Nisan and arrived safely. The priests then took the treasures to the Temple and presented them to the priests there. When they were weighed, nothing had been stolen or lost. The new exile sacrifices burnt offerings to the God of Israel. *** Some of the Jewish leaders came to Ezra and explained to him that the people in Jerusalem had intermarried with the people of the land and had taken up their evil practices of idolatry. Ezra was shocked that this could happen and tore his clothes, pulled hair from his head and beard. All who feared the Lord came and sat with him. *** Ezra got on his knees and prayed and interceded for the people and their sins. He prayed a very humble prayer of sorrow and repentance. *** In First Corinthians Paul was just as sad when he learned of the sexual immorality going on in the church in Corinth. A man in the church was living in sin with his step-mother. The church was proud instead of repentant and shamed. Paul told them instead of having grace for this man he should be removed from their fellowship. *** Paul told them to have a meeting and then throw the man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature would be destroyed and he himself would be saved on the day the Lord returns. *** To let this man stay would allow others to do the same thing. It would corrupt the whole church. Paul had written to them telling them not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin while claiming to be a believer. The job of our leaders in the church is to judge the church, not the world. God will judge them. *** Lord, may we examine our hearts and purify ourselves. May we get rid of all the things that tempt us to defile our temples. May we choose holiness and purity for your glory.

Thurs.’s Devo - The Favor Given to Ezra

Read: Ezra 7:1-8:20; 1 Corinthians 4:1-21; Psalm 30:1-12; Proverbs 20:28-30 Ezra was of the 17th generation from Aaron. He was a scribe that was well-versed in the Law of Moses. He came up to Jerusalem from Babylon with King Artexerxes’ blessing. He gave Ezra everything he asked for because God’s hand was upon him. *** Ezra arrived in Jerusalem bringing other priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers and Temple servants. He had left Babylon on Nisan one, the first day of the new year and arrived five months later on the first day of the fifth month of Elul. He came with a copy of a letter from the king. *** The letter stated that he wanted Ezra to find out if the people of Judah and Israel were living according to the law of Moses. He was also to take silver and gold from the king’s treasure as an offering to the God of Israel. The people of Babylon could give him gold and silver also. Their donations were to go to buying animals to be sacrificed and any left over could be used however they felt was in the will of God. *** The king sent back cups that had been taken to Babylon from the Temple. The letter also stated that the provinces west of the Euphrates River were to give Ezra whatever he requested of them up to 7,500 pounds of silver, 500 bushels of wheat, 550 gallons of wine, 550 gallons of olive oil, and an unlimited amount of salt. He also commanded that all the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Temple servants and any other worker in the Temple were tax exempt. *** Ezra was given the authority to appoint magistrates and judges who knew the law of God to govern the people west of the Euphrates River and to teach them the law. Anyone who refused to obey it would be punishable by death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment. *** Ezra praised the Lord for the favor he had been given. He listed all the family leaders who were going with Ezra back to Jerusalem and found that there were no Levites on the list. So he sent messages to some of the Levite families to ask for volunteers to return. Sherebiah, Hashabiah and Jeshaiah offered to come and brought their families. They totaled 220. *** In the New Testament, Paul continued his letter to Corinth. He explained that Apollos and him were mere servants of Christ whose job was to explain the mysteries of God. Paul even said that he didn’t always trust his own judgment or believe he was always right. But, God was his judge. They should wait and let God judge everything when He returns. Then every secret motive will be revealed. He will reward and judge. *** The people had been led astray by teachers who lived in great abundance and taught abundance. Paul and Apollos had paid the price for what they believed and were still paying the price. Paul said that the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk but living by God’s power. *** Lord, may we live by your power and not worry about what others think of us. May your Kingdom come!