Do Not Neglect the House of God

"Thus we will not neglect the house of our God" is the covenant promise made to God in Nehemiah 10.   The children of Israel, who had miraculously been brought back from 70 years of slavery in Babylon, saw God help them rebuild the Temple and complete the wall of protection.  Now in thanksgiving and worship they were confessing their sin, dedicating their lives to obey the Word, and committing their resources to support the servants of God. 

It follows, that the Holy Spirit translates this passage to New Testament believers to not neglect maintaining the welfare of the inner man since we are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  In response for all the Lord has done, Psalm 103 reminds us to bless the Lord with everything that is in us, not forgeting all His benefits.   

The words of Jesus, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, give direction and instruction for how to be faithful to the presence of God and all He has done for us.  When we get busy and involved in worldly concerns, it is easy to be like those who rejected the (Matthew 22) king's invitation to attend the wedding feast.  Because, there is always an excuse.  I have purchased five oxen and have to try them out, I have married a wife and cannot come, etc.  We do not neglect the house of God, our temple where God lives in us, by putting His commands and His service first, not just when convenient. 

Most of us would find it difficult to wait quietly before God for ten minutes after reading the Word, yet we have no difficulty wasting many times that amount on our cell phones, social media, youtube, or even TV.   It is also easy to plan and do whatever it takes to get the worldly things we desire (which will pass away), and only as an after-thought, how can I please God with my resources.  It takes a change of mind to realize that it is God's time and money, and that we are stewards, or caretakers of what He has given.

One of the things that I spoke to the young people at school on Friday was instruction about how they use the Internet.  Some of my young men are challenged to stay pure in what they watch on Instagram, Tik-Tok, Youtube and other sites.  There is a true incident that happened to a friend of mine who found the Lord in college, but was still tempted with immorality.  One day, as he was sitting at the bar in a strip club, he heard the Lord say to him, "Jim, just want you to know that I am with you here."  So the challenge given to these high school boys was to realize that Jesus was right with them as they go online, and to only participate in sites He would be pleased to have you watch.

The same principle works for us, for what we let ourselves think about, for what attitudes we hold on to, and for what we cherish as important to our well-being.  No wonder Paul, in 2 Corinthians 10, defines the spiritual battle and stats that we need to use our God-given weapons of divine power to be "destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."  If we could see Jesus physically sitting with us, what would we find acceptable to think or do?  The point is do not neglect the house of God. 

Bad News: Battle; Good News: You Overcome!

You are an overcomer.  You live by faith.  Faith and patience inherit the promises.  Receive God's plan for you as stated in Romans 15:13,  "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."   

Hope is a sure promise of sharing Jesus' victory.  It shouldn't surprise us that life has battles.  1 Peter 4:12 reminds us not to consider it strange at the fiery trials we face.  Paul shared in Corinthians that an effective door had opened for him to share the Gospel, but there were many adversaries.  All through Biblical history, whether re-building the temple, the walls of Jerusalem, David's challenge with Saul, etc., there have always been obstacles that seek to prevent man from doing God's will.  That is why Galatians 6:9 encourages us to persevere, "do not get weary in well-doing for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

1 John 5 gives a message that is even stronger, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"  As you stand in faith that Jesus is the Son of God, who overcame, and now His resurrection power dwells in you, you are transformed into an overcomer.

When you are in the middle of problems, take time and let the Word dwell in your richly until you can rest in the spirit and stand in all God has promised and what He has called you to believe.  As Galatians 4 reminds us, we are heirs of God, but if we stay as little children, we don't know all we possess.  It clearly is a season where the Holy Spirit is encouraging us to possess our possessions and not be intimidated by the enemy's threats and setbacks.  Having done all, stand.

My prayer is that you continue to strive to enter that rest of faith and are able to set your mind on the Spirit who knows and reveals all that God has given you.  You will have victory and overcome in the name and triumph of Jesus. 

Behold the Man!

Pilate invited the crowd to "Behold" Jesus.  Everything is decided by how we behold Him.  

The foundation is that God is love and He simply desires to love and be loved.  This relationship for us starts, of course, with receiving.  Romans 5:5 declares the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Spirit of God who has been given to us.  It is beyond our finite understanding of why, but the Lord simply loves being in our presence and enjoys us loving Him by being in His presence.  

How much time does the average Christian (or you and I) spend in His presence, not asking or talking, but waiting on Him and just enjoying being with Him?  When was the last time you just sat and were still before Him? Someone, who died and went to heaven but was sent back, reported that Jesus was grieved that people wanted what the Lord has (such as healing, power, miracles, strength, etc.), but didn't simply want Him.  

Psalm 17:15 suggests that not only will we be satisfied, but also changed as we take time to behold Him.  "As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness."   We see the same principle in 2 Corinthians 3:18, "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."  In His light, we become light.

Therefore, purpose to want more "of Him" rather than just to get things "from Him."  There is fullness of joy in His presence.  So today, take time to just be still and enjoy Him and who He is.  We talk about a relationship with the Lord, but do we keep the relationship alive and growing by spending time with Him, not just asking things from Him.  As Ephesians 1:23 reveals, Jesus' goal and ultimate purpose is to be "all in all."  Take time to "Behold the Man" in love with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength and let Him reveal Himself to you.  

Be a Lamb, End a Lion!

Because Jesus laid His life down as an obedient Lamb, He earned the right to rule as the Lion.  (Philippians 2)

This same dichotomy can be seen in the Christian life.  Paul said that through many tribulations we enter the Kingdom of God.  2 Corinthians 4 speaks about how we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the power may be of God and not of us. The following description of being hard-pressed, but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken, etc. shows the reality that the struggle in the world can in no way take away the life and joy of what we have and who we are in the Lord.  We are "the Lion" that God has called to rule if we become "the lamb" who obediently submits to the Master.

2 Corinthians 4:10 reveals this key, "always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body."  Jesus said no one takes My life from Me, I lay it down of Myself.  Yet, in truth, His laying His life down brought about the greatest blessing that could ever happen to man, changing our very nature as believers into children of God.  Likewise, when we freely release our life, our desires and rights, we allow God's power to be released in and through us.  A simple attitude shift of "how can I bless someone today," instead of "what about me?" will open the door for the life of Jesus to be manifested. 

Paul, two chapters later, describes how he and his Christian team were regarded in this two-fold perception, "as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things."  The world rejected Jesus and according to John 15, will reject those who follow Him.  However, know that whatever the price, God honors your obedient laying down your life with His abundant inner strength, joy, and peace.  The glory does not compare to the sacrifice.  What you sow as a Lamb, you will surely reap by the Lion power of God.