WORSHIP IS CENTRAL
The grass is just beginning to grow. You can just barely see it. Little by little, the ground that was barren is again becoming a lush pasture.
Such is the image that comes to mind in Nehemiah 11-12. The exiles have received favor from the Lord. There is even an Israelite in the King’s ear “in all matters concerning the people” back in Persia (Nehemiah 11:25). They are the recipients of God’s favor and sovereign protection. Walls have been rebuilt and worship established—on the dime of the king of Persia himself! (Ezra 7:20, Nehemiah 11:22-23). This signifies for us who now read the account of how God’s people fared post-exile that the most important aspect of their new lives and rebuilding efforts was worship of their God. May we learn from their wisdom and fealty. As we continue to live for God’s glory here on the earth and proclaim the gospel to neighborhoods and nations, may worship remain central to all that we do.
Such is the image that comes to mind in Nehemiah 11-12. The exiles have received favor from the Lord. There is even an Israelite in the King’s ear “in all matters concerning the people” back in Persia (Nehemiah 11:25). They are the recipients of God’s favor and sovereign protection. Walls have been rebuilt and worship established—on the dime of the king of Persia himself! (Ezra 7:20, Nehemiah 11:22-23). This signifies for us who now read the account of how God’s people fared post-exile that the most important aspect of their new lives and rebuilding efforts was worship of their God. May we learn from their wisdom and fealty. As we continue to live for God’s glory here on the earth and proclaim the gospel to neighborhoods and nations, may worship remain central to all that we do.
by Craig Lester, Pastor of Worship & Music
Posted in Read Through the Bible
Recent
Archive
2021
January
THE SIN OF WITHHOLDINGABRAM, THE MAN OF FAITH???HEEDING THE VOICE OF THE LORDA RELATIONSHIP OF FAITHNAMES ON A LISTREMEMBERAND THERE HE BLESSED HIM... Gen. 32:29GOD IS IN CONTROL AND WE CAN TRUST HIMROAD TO RECOVERYACCEPTING GOD'S GIFTSDOES YOUR 'BREATH' STINK?REMEMBER MY SERVANT JOBTHOUGHTS FROM JOBREAL CHRISTIANS NEVER APOLOGIZESECURE IN GOD'S HANDCOUNSELING "DON'T'S" FROM ELIHUTHE UNSEARCHABLE GREATNESS OF GOD
February
WE ARE A NEW CREATIONLORD, BE THE CENTERAS THE LORD HAS SAIDHARDENED HEARTSWHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR USJOY IN THE BELOVEDHAND-IN-HANDGIVE AS THE LORD PROMPTS YOUSACRIFICES AND OFFERINGSTHE DEATH OF NADAB AND ABIHUFLEE AND PURSUEHOLY LAMB OF GODAS A CHRISTIAN, DO THE COMMANDS IN LEVITICUS STILL APPLY TO ME TODAY?THE TITHE, HOLY TO THE LORD
March
I HAVE NO CHOICEUNBELIEF...IT MAKES SENSEJESUS AND THE BRONZE SNAKEAPPALLED BY SINREMEMBERING WHAT GOD HAS DONEOBEDIENCE & DISOBEDIENCETHOUGHTS ON THE PASSOVERBE PROUD OF YOUR KING...UNLESS HE'S A PROUD KINGIF - THENHEART AND SOULWHAT IFTHE 'EYES' HAVE IT!FINISHING WELLLETTING PEOPLE KNOW YOU BELONG TO CHRISTPUT DOWN YOUR PENCILS
April
SIN - REPENT - SALVATION - REPEAT ...GOD GIVES VICTORY AND BLESSING TO THOSE WHO OBEYWE NEED A SAVIOR - A KING!GOD HAS A PLAN FOR EACH OF USTHE LORD CALLED SAMUEL AND CALLS USITS SATURDAY, THE DAY INBETWEENLISTEN AND OBEYSMALL THINGSTHREE QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN YOU'RE REALLY, REALLY ANGRYFAITH w/o 'WORKS'MICHAL, DAVID'S WIFEUNBRIDLED LIFEGOD OUR REFUGE
May
HOME IS NOT YOUR SANCTUARYCASTING VISIONLEADING BY EXAMPLEREMEMBER GOD'S PROMISESWORDSFAIRY TALESTHE FOOL SAYS IN HIS HEART ...SEEKING STRENGTH IN DELUSION?!PSALM 86: A GLIMPSE OF GOD'S CHARACTERBLESS THE LORD, OH MY SOULNEARNESS OF HIS NAMESNOTTY SNOW CONESGIVE ME WISDOM AND DISCERNMENTSOLOMON'S PARADOXDAVID, A MAN AFTER GOD'S OWN HEARTA BETTER NIGHT'S SLEEPKNOW HIMBEWARE OF THE TRAP OF SINCLIMBING OUT OF CYNICISM
June
MERRY HEART = MEDICINE FOR MY BODY ... ????!!!WHISPERS IN YOUR EARSONG OF SOLOMONIS SEX AN ISSUE IN YOUR MARRIAGE?POTENTIAL LOSTKING ASA'S HEART IN 2021A FALTERING FAITHHE DEPARTED WITH NO ONE'S REGRET...JOASH: AMAZING START, DISAPPOINTING FINISHTHE DEEP UGLINESS OF MANSEEK THE LORDTHE PROPHETIC HISTORY OF THE NATION OF ISRAELSTOP DOING WRONG - LEARN TO DO RIGHTLITTLE MAGGOTS AND GOD'S LOVE
No Comments