Nehemiah 9

Full Service 

Living for righteousness means wholeheartedly realizing that sin does not please God. Through Christ’s work on the cross, we can “die to sins and live for righteousness” (1 Pt. 2:24). Yet, many times we fail to live by the Spirit and choose to live according to the flesh, and in turn, sin against God. Through confessing our sin, we learn and experience that God’s grace is truly amazing!

Living for Righteousness is Fuelled by Recognizing:

1. The Seriousness of sin (vs. 1-5)

- God’s Word should be the catalyst for taking our sin seriously (cf. Ps. 119:11)

- Taking sin seriously involves agreeing with what God’s Word says about it, confessing it, and repenting from it (cf. Prov. 28:13; 2 Chron. 7:14; Ezek. 18:30b)

How much does it bother you when you sin against God? Reflect on how committed you are to quickly confess and turn from your sin. Praise God for taking our need for forgiveness of sins so seriously. (cf. 1 Jn. 4:10; 2 Cor. 5:21)

2. God’s glory and greatness (vs. 5b-15)

- God’s glory is the beauty that originates and flows out from His character, and out from all that He is (cf. Ex. 33:19; Jn. 1:14; Rev. 21:23)

- His greatness is gloriously revealed in His creation and in His redemption (cf. Ps. 19:1-6; 2 Cor. 4:6)

Does the way you live your life truly reflect that you grasp the glory and greatness of the God you claim to serve? Does the fact that you have the privilege to be in a right relationship with the One and only, true, living, glorious, great, creator God still amaze you? (cf. 1 Pt. 2:9-10; 1 Jn. 3:1a)

3. The persistence of God’s great goodness and compassion (vs. 16-31)

- God’s goodness and compassion are persistent in spite of our repeated unfaithfulness (cf. Neh. 9:28b; Lamentations 3:22-23)

- Surely His goodness and love will follow us all the days of our lives and we will dwell in the house of the LORD forever (cf. Ps. 23:6)

Have you experienced the blessing of God’s persistent goodness running after you? If so, “give thanks to the LORD, for He is good and His love endures forever” (Ps. 107:1). But, if you are discouraged from living in repeated disobedience to God, remember that He is a gracious and merciful God and your disobedience doesn’t have to be the end of your story. Run to the Lord, confess your sin, repent from it, receive His forgiveness, and taste and see that the Lord is good. (cf. Ps. 34:8)

4. The undeserved grace of God (vs. 32-37)

- God graciously uses His Word, in conjunction with the Holy Spirit, to clearly show us exactly what we need to do

- “It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace” (cf. Heb. 13:9)

In light of His amazing grace, how could we not desire to live for righteousness?! Perhaps it’s time for a fresh beginning! (cf. Titus 2:11-1)

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