Scripture Reference: Nehemiah 8-10
Turning Back to God
When was the last time you wept at hearing God’s word? Have you ever? Has God’s word every broken your heart? Have you ever stopped to consider the depth
of your sin, the distance between a sinful human being and a holy God?
In Nehemiah, the people wept upon hearing God’s word. They
realized that they had been away in a foreign land. They realized that they had lost touch with
God. They realized that more than their
physical city was lost, their very holiness was gone too. So, they wept.
Nehemiah reminded them that this day was holy and that
called for joy and rejoicing.
The same holds true for us.
God’s grace is cause for ultimate rejoicing.
But sometimes I wonder if we need to take a moment. Let’s stop and not rush to the rejoicing
without first recognizing how far away from God we are, how much we need Him to
rescue us. When we realize that, then
the joy at knowing that Christ died to bring us back in reconciliation with God
will be that much more powerful.
Let me encourage you to take some time in the coming
weeks. As you read God’s word, as you
listen to sermons, as you pray to Him; take a little extra time to explore the
gulf that lays between you and Him, so you can better experience the joy at
knowing that He reached out to you across that divide.
Pastor Rodger
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