pramsay posted on May 14, 2009 05:57 2065 views

Making the Serious Commitment

(See Special Announcement below regarding a new feature entitled: Monday Meditations)

“Look out the window, mom. The streets are filled with people. Where is everyone going? They’re all dressed the same way. They’re wearing stuff that looks like canvass only its rougher and courser looking. Almost looks like potato sacks. And they’ve got dirt or ashes all over their heads.”

A Jewish mother would explain to her child the significance of what was happening. “Zack, it’s a special meeting today. Our people have sinned against our great God in so many ways and for so long. We have disobeyed Him, turned our backs on Him, taken our own selfish ways and we’ve disappointed our God repeatedly. Today all our people are gathering to confess all of this sin. That’s why everybody is wearing those drab and coarse sacks and that’s why they put the dirt on their heads. It’s a sign that we have failed and sinned and we are very sorry. We are repenting of our wrong ways and today we are going to tell God that, from now on, we all want to please and honor Him.”

How much little Zack would understand, it’s hard to say. But you can read about this significant day in Israel‘s history in Nehemiah Chapter 9. The people gathered and for 3 hours they listened to the Word of God being read publicly. The next three hours they spent confessing their sins and the wickedness of their people. It was a very sobering experience but there was something exciting about it too. It was an official turning point for them. During those hours, they were also united in worshipping the Lord their God.

Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the sons of Israel assembled with fasting,

in sackcloth and with dirt upon them.and stood and

confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.

While they stood in their place,

they read from the book of the law of the LORD their God

 for a fourth of the day; and for another fourth

they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God.

(Nehemiah 9:1-3)

Now because of all this we are making an agreement in writing;

And on the sealed document are the names of our leaders, our Levites and our priests.”

(Nehemiah 9:38)

You read it right. They were so serious about turning a corner in their relationship with the Lord, they committed to writing down all the changes they would make in their lifestyles. They signed it as a contract between themselves and God. The details of the agreement are found in Nehemiah Chapter 10.

Sin in the life of a believer is serious – very serious. Have you been ignoring some certain sin in your life? Are you trying to continue living your Christian life as if everything is normal, when deep down you know there is a sin you need to abandon and confess? Are you ready to deal with it today? Bring it to the surface in the presence of God; confess it and forsake it. Are you prepared to make a serious commitment to the Lord? Would you record your communication with the Lord in your private journal?

Sin in our life doesn’t just fade away or eventually evaporate. We have to deal with it decisively in the presence of God – or we will continue to experience a shortage of power in our life, a stilted joy and a guilty conscience. Read 1 John Chapters 1 and 2.

Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.

Warmly in Christ

Peter Ramsay

peter@heaven4sure.com

Special Announcement: The www.heaven4sure.com website is now ready for you to subscribe to a new once-a-week email feature provided by Dr. Sandy Higgins entitled: Monday Meditations. This new feature will especially benefit those who sometimes struggle in focusing on Bible material that will lead to a greater appreciation of the Person of Christ. It will consist of a very concise opening statement based on Scripture, with two or three challenging, thought-provoking questions for you to think deeply about during the week. When you receive this Monday morning ‘brief’ email you will want to print it off and keep it in your Bible for the week or use it to engage your friends in a spiritual, Christ-centered discussion.

To be included on the email list, you personally will have to subscribe specifically for the Monday Meditations.

Click on this link to sign up: https://heaven4sure.com/Subscriptions/tabid/98/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Next, check the box for Monday Meditations and enter your name and email address. If you have already signed up for Bible Bites or Life lessons, do not check either of those boxes. Just check the Monday Meditation Box.

The website page devoted to Monday Meditations has the following introduction:

The ultimate goal of redemption is to make us worshipers. The Lord Jesus Christ said: “.True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” (John 4:23 ESV) Worship, while difficult to define, is the result of being occupied with Christ – His person and work.

This weekly meditation is prepared by Dr. Sandy Higgins. Its purpose is to give believers truth to think about and develop in their own minds and hearts throughout the week. Ultimately, as the week progresses, daily worship will result in hearts full of adoration for the Lord Jesus on the Lord’s Day (Sunday) as believers gather to remember Him.

Dr. A.J. Higgins is the Editor of the Christian magazine, Truth and Tidings and is well known in many parts of the world for his relevant and clear Bible teaching. He and his wife Ruth live in New Jersey, USA.

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