Committed to Following
Nehemiah 10
As children of God, there are times in our journey when we “put a stake in the ground” and intentionally declare our commitment to follow the Lord. Often those moments can follow a season where we drift and then, by God’s grace, we become aware of what has happened. Praise God, “though we may stumble, we will not fall, for the LORD upholds us with His hand” (Ps. 37:24).
Committed followers of the Lord:
1. Take ownership when they fail to take God’s Word seriously (vs. 9:38-10:29)
- Committing to follow the Lord in community provides the blessing of accountability in helping us to remain faithful (cf. Prov. 27:17; Heb. 10:24-25; James 5:16; Gal. 6:1-2)
- Committing to take God’s Word seriously should be our joyful response when we consider all that God has done for us (cf. Col. 3:1ff)
“Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves” (Jas. 1:22a). Would others describe you as someone who attentively listens to God’s Word and does what it says? If not, put a “stake in the ground” and recommit to hiding God’s Word in your heart, so that you will not sin against Him (Ps. 119:11).
2. Take responsibility for carefully walking in obedience to God’s Word (vs. 30-31)
- Walking in obedience distinguishes us from the world and allows us to live as salt and light (cf. Dt. 28:9-10; Jn. 17:14-17)
- Before doing anything, ask, “In doing this, will I enjoy the blessing of God and fulfill His will?”
Are you committed to carefully walking in obedience to God’s Word and to being different (being in the world, but not of the world)? Have you drifted, and do you find yourself being squeezed into the mold of the world? (Rom. 12:2; 1 Pt. 2:9)
3. Take action to support the ongoing ministry in the “house of the Lord” (vs. 32-39)
- God is glorified through sacrificially giving as an act of worship, and in support of His mission
- Understanding that we are stewards of His resources, not owners, should motivate us to cheerfully give back to Him the first, and best, of all He has entrusted to us (Dt. 16:16-17; Prov. 3:9-10; 2 Cor. 9:6-7)
When it comes to your talent, time, and resources, what actions are you taking to support the ongoing ministry of the Lord here at Calvary and around the world? Considering all that God has done for us, how can we rob Him of the tithes and offerings that rightly belong to Him (cf. Mal. 3:8-10)? Jesus said, “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Mt.6:21). If an audit was done of who or what gets the best of our time, talent, and resources, where would the “house of the Lord” rank in order of priority?
“Together, let’s build on God’s faithfulness by committing to follow the Word of God, and not neglect the house of the Lord.”
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