Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing
Nehemiah 8
God works in our lives to keep steering us back to the main thing: His Word.
(cf. Mt. 4:4; Ps. 119:105; Eph. 6:17; Jas. 1:23-25; Heb. 4:12; 2 Tim. 16-17)
The question we all must honestly answer is, “am I keeping His Word (the main thing), the main thing? Do you intentionally prioritize studying and meditating on His Word? How much do you depend on His Word to shape your thinking, desires, and ultimately, actions?
Four Indicators of People Who Are Seeking to Keep God’s Word the Main Thing (vs. 1-8)
They have:
1. A clear desire for the Word of God (cf. vs. 1)
- The walls were rebuilt and the people wanted God’s Word
- God’s people love God’s Word (cf. Ps. 119:97, 47-48, 103, 127)
How would you grade your desire for the Word of God?
2. An eagerness to listen attentively to the Word of God (cf. vs. 3)
- Becoming a fully devoted disciple of Christ will require being disciplined to prepare our minds, hearts, and ears to listen attentively to the Word of God
- Listening attentively to the Word of God honours God, is good for our souls, and encourages the messenger
How would your grade your eagerness to listen attentively to the Word of God?
3. A reverence for the Word of God (cf. vs. 4-6)
- Remember that every time we read or hear the Scriptures, we are receiving the very Word of God (cf. 1 Thess. 2:13)
- Reverence for the Word of God is not optional; the form of reverence may differ between fellow believers
How would you grade your reverence for the Word of God?
4. A longing to understand the Word of God (cf. vs. 7-8, 12b)
- Desiring, listening, and revering the Word of God are all essential, but without understanding application is next to impossible (cf. Ps. 119:104-106)
- Corporate proclamation of the Word of God in large gatherings and understanding personal application of the Word of God in smaller groups are both critical to becoming fully devoted disciples of Christ
How would you grade your longing to understand the Word of God?
Three Ways Keeping God’s Word the Main Thing Impacts Our Lives (vs. 9-18)
We experience the blessing of:
1. “Getting right” with God (vs. 9)
- God graciously uses His Word to reveal sin in our lives (cf. Heb. 4:12-13; Rom. 3:20)
- God wonderfully uses His Word to remind us that through confession and repentance, we can experience His forgiveness and power to move forward (cf. 1 Jn. 1:9; Php. 3:13b)
How regularly are you experiencing the blessings of conviction, confession, repentance, forgiveness, and the power of God to move forward?
2. The joy of the Lord as our strength (vs. 10-12)
- God’s Word brings conviction which leads to repentance, but it also brings us joy
(cf. Jer. 15:16; Ps. 19:8)
- God’s joy (His good pleasure) for His children gives great hope, assurance, and strength
Are you experiencing the strength that comes from knowing the depth of God’s joy for you?
Cf. Zeph. 3:17
3. Living in obedience to God’s Word (vs. 13-18)
- The Word of God instructs us what to do and great joy comes from doing what it tells us to do (cf. Jn. 15:10-11; Ps. 119:2)
- It is not enough to hear the Word of God; we must also obey what it tells us to do
(cf. Jas. 1:22-25)
Are you experiencing the blessing and the joy of the Lord that comes from living in obedience to the Word of God? If not, start today by obeying what it says!
All spiritual renewal must begin with a re-discovery of the main thing:
the Word of God – and our obedience to it!
Series Information
