Daily Devotion - The Power of His Presence
 

The Power of His Presence

Daily Devotions

From the Writings of Ray Stedman

 

Nehemiah: Principles of Reconstruction

August

The Old Testament book of Nehemiah, along with Ezra and Esther, covers the period after the Babylonian captivity when Israel had returned to Jerusalem and had begun again the worship of Jehovah in the restored temple. Ezra, the priest, led an early return to Israel and restored worship in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. Nehemiah, who was a contemporary of Ezra, led a later return. Nehemiah was a layman, a butler to the Persian emperor, Artaxerxes I. Persia is now the modern nation of Iran.

Nehemiah is the historic account of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, which took place in the fifth century before Christ. But Nehemiah did more than rebuild a wall. This book is also the story of restoring a people from ruin and despair to a new walk with God. Jerusalem is not only an historic city that for centuries has been the center of the life of the nation of Israel (and, in fact, the center of the biblical record), it is also a symbolic city. Jerusalem is also used in a pictorial sense throughout the Scriptures. What it pictures is the place where God desires to dwell. When God first designated to King David that Jerusalem was the place where He wanted him to build the temple, he was told that this was the place where God would dwell among His people. However, it is only a picture--it is not the actual place where God dwells--for, according to the New Testament, people are to be the dwelling place of God. God seeks to dwell in the human spirit. That is the great secret that humanity has largely lost today but which New Testament Christianity seeks to restore. Paul's great statement in the letter to the Colossians is, "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). This is God's provision and desire for us.

Jerusalem-in-ruins, therefore, is a picture of a life that has lost its defenses against attack and lies open to repeated hurt and misery. The book of Nehemiah depicts the way of recovery from breakdown and ruin to a condition of peace, security, restored order, and usefulness.

This introduction was inspired by one of Ray's sermons. Please read "Nehemiah: Rebuilding the Walls" (or listen to the audio file  Listen to Ray) for more on this portion of scripture.

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Daily Devotions for the Month of August
 
1st Broken Walls, Broken Lives (Nehemiah 1:1-3) — Are we ready and willing to allow God to expose our brokenness and lead us in paths of healing and usefulness?
 
2nd The Place To Start (Nehemiah 1:4-11) — Are we experiencing the healing power of contrite repentance? Do we acknowledge the effects of our sins on others' lives?
 
3rd Honest Assessment (Nehemiah 2:1-8) — Have we assessed the costs to our pride and self-reliance in rebuilding parts of our lives? Are we trusting God to show us His way through Christ?
 
4th Unexpected Help (Nehemiah 2:9-10) — Do we believe that God works in our lives? Do we rely on His power and provision given to us through Jesus to help us in every situation?
 
5th Standing Up To The Enemy (Nehemiah 2:11-20) — When we face ridicule and opposition, do we recognize their ultimate source? What steps can we take to recover from destructive habits or ruin in our lives?
 
6th Working Together (Nehemiah 3:1-27) — We enjoy going on mission trips, but how well do we work together to spend time with our neighbors? Do our excuses reveal a shirking of responsibility?
 
7th The Need For Each Other (Nehemiah 3:28-32) — Where is it wonderful to seek help from others instead of trying to be independent of them? Which people does the ministry of the Church belong to?
 
8th How To Handle An Attack (Nehemiah 4:1-6) — How do we respond when we are ridiculed or scorned? What is a better way to respond than in fear, anger, hurt, or rebuttal?
 
9th Prayer And Preparedness (Nehemiah 4:7-23) — What are two necessary responses when we are under attack? When we feel a bitterness of spirit, what spiritual resources are available to be victorious?
 
10th Internal Strife (Nehemiah 5) — Are we honestly confronting greed in all areas of our lives? Are we able to honestly, even bluntly, confront those we are in relationship with to help them?
 
11th A Great Work (Nehemiah 6:1-9) — Do we place supreme value on God's work in us and through us? How do we react under repeated opposition or the pressure of uncertainty?
 
12th When Not To Run Away (Nehemiah 6:10-14) — How important is it to know or remember our true identity as a believer? Where can we find out who we are in Christ?
 
13th The Power And Peril Of A Witness (Nehemiah 6:15-19) — In our present circumstance, can we expect opposition from the world, our old habits, and the devil to cease? How does faith in Jesus enable victory?
 
14th The Need To Belong (Nehemiah 7) — How does truly knowing Jesus and why we belong to God make our good deeds fruitful and effective? Do our acts of service stem from a response to God?
 
15th Hunger For The Word (Nehemiah 8:1-8) — When our souls are undernourished and we suffer spiritual indigestion, do we turn to the Word of God to feed and restore us to wholeness?
 
16th The Joy Of The Lord (Nehemiah 8:9-12) — What does 'the joy of the Lord' mean? What can heal our life? Do we both celebrate and share with others the Joy which is our heritage?
 
17th The Way Of Health (Nehemiah 8:13-18) — Are we owned by our earthly possessions? Are we learning to hold them lightly? How can we recognize the unhealthy delusions of a mistaken and confused world?
 
18th Where To Begin (Nehemiah 9:1-15) — As we understand God's attributes we are better able to know and worship Him. Are our hearts tuned to praise God as the One from whom all blessings flow?
 
19th Time After Time (Nehemiah 9:16-37) — How do we respond to God's tough love in others' lives as well as our own? Are we able to recognize and be thankful for the tough love of God?
 
20th The Oath (Nehemiah 9:38-10:29) — How fully set apart and committed are we to knowing Jesus Christ? When we consent to God's will, do we fully count on His power to keep us faithful and fruitful?
 
21st The Need For A Sacrifice (Nehemiah 10:30-33) — Can we daily and joyfully choose to sacrifice our will for His will? Do all of our choices reflect the ownership rights of the Lord Jesus who bought us at infinite cost?
 
22nd The House Of God (Nehemiah 10:34-39) — Have we learned patience and received blessing from believers who are different from us? Are we faithfully meeting and ministering with others in the body of Christ?
 
23rd Any Volunteers? (Nehemiah 11) — God calls and equips His people to serve voluntarily. Will we miss the grandeur of His calling to minister both in the Church and the world, by default?
 
24th Real Heroes And Real Life (Nehemiah 12:1-26) — Studying and remembering God-made history can be far more fruitful than dwelling on man-made philosophy. What lessons are we learning from the Bible each day?
 
25th How To Celebrate (Nehemiah 12:27-43) — How do we distinguish joy from happiness? What are three elements in celebrating life as God intended? Do our lives reflect these three elements?
 
26th Giving Cheerfully (Nehemiah 12:44-47) — What motive is at the true center of our heart in our giving? Are we so grateful for God's gifts to us that we give willingly, cheerfully, generously, and with compassion?
 
27th Drastic Action (Nehemiah 13:1-9) — Do we have the requisite credibility, courage and wisdom for expressing outrage in our decadent culture? Are we blinded by tolerance so as not to see the wrongness?
 
28th Are You Faithful? (Nehemiah 13:10-14) — In a culture where unfaithfulness is rampant, are we thoughtfully alert, humbly motivated, and faithfully committed to be counter-cultural?
 
29th The True Sabbath Rest (Nehemiah 13:15-22) — Are we at rest because of the work God has done and is doing in us? Are we relying on our own strength rather than understanding His power as the source?
 
30th The Unequal Yoke (Nehemiah 13:23-29) — Are we actively seeking the profound and practical wisdom of the Word for all our relationships, and to avail ourselves of His wise and loving protection?
 
31st Remember Me (Nehemiah 13:30-31) — How prone are we to self-deception? Are we really able to be honest with ourselves as we talk with God? Do we remember daily the true source of our righteousness?
 

© 2007 by Elaine Stedman -- From the book The Power of His Presence: a year of devotions from the writings of Ray Stedman; compiled by Mark Mitchell. Devotion pages, excerpts, or quotes may be used as long as the copyright notice includes the book title and author along with a reference or a hyperlink to the Official Ray C. Stedman Library web site at www.RayStedman.org.