Today is Thursday, October 12, 2023. I will do devotions tomorrow morning with some of our New Hope Christian College student interns as I do each week. I look forward to these rich times of discipleship. If you know of anyone who has a calling to serve in ministry, click on this link. As we do our devotions, we can join in the Spirit and fulfill what God commanded the kings to do in Deuteronomy 17. What was that? Read on …
Today's Reading:
Nehemiah 7,8; Acts 1
Scripture
“He read from the book of the law of God daily, from the first day to the last day …” (Nehemiah 8:18)
Observation
The Word of God was not simply a document that the people returning from the Babylonian captivity were to read once in a while if they had nothing else to do. It would be their life. It was to be their compass. It would be the recipe book on how to survive during a famine. It held the wisdom of the ages for everyday living.
Ezra read to the people from the Word of God from dawn till noon for one week straight! The Word of God would guide them in this new season. It was the Word that could save them from costly mistakes as they learned how to live in a “post-captivity” era. But they weren’t supposed to just visit the Word from time to time.
THEY WERE TO DWELL IN IT!
Application
Ezra read the word of God to the people and explained it to give understanding, and he did this daily! How often I am reminded that wisdom does not come in one dose.
It comes in daily doses.
Deuteronomy 17:18-20 tells us what He expects as He addresses the leaders of the people.
He speaks first to the king. Among other things, he was to write and read the Law daily. And if this is true for the kings, how much more for the King’s kids!
In fact, this is one of our core values at New Hope… doing daily devotions and journaling … so we, like the kings of old, can “read and write” daily what the Holy Spirit is revealing to us. (If you need a journal, you can get one at liferesources.cc, or you may click here.)
Prayer
Dear Father, how thankful I am for Your Word!! As I read daily, please increase the lumens of the light within me. Raise the impact of my testimony and extend the reach of Your glorious Gospel until all have heard.
Sign up to receive Pastor Wayne's devotions daily
