Friday, October 22: Nehemiah 10- Living Differently.

Yesterday we read about the peoples’ honesty before the Lord. They examined their lives in light of God’s word.  The account continues in today’s chapter, chronicling the written pledge the people made to the Lord to live differently.

Surrounding culture creates an unseen but very real pressure on all people living within the culture. It exerts pressure to conform, to live like everyone else. Culture pressured people in Nehemiah’s day and it does in our day. People of faith must beware!  Culture has a way of squeezing faith out of people, slowly yet steadily…

Israel, in Nehemiah’s day, pledged to no longer marry foreign women or give their daughters to foreign husbands. They pledged to uphold the Sabbath, no longer buying foreign merchandise on the Sabbath. And they pledged to honor and respect every 7^th year as a Sabbath year not working the land, as well as canceling debts with brothers. Other pledges were made to live according the God’s word.

The first three in particular show the pressure of culture on people of faith. The cries to intermarry and to do commerce with the pagans were strong and Israel succumbed. For reforms to take place, Israel had to affirm and conform that they would live differently.  That they would live as God’s word instructed.

The Holy Spirit’s nudge was not so subtle, “Bill, look at your life; plumb it against My word. Culture is pressuring you… make changes. Make appropriate God-honoring changes to your life…”

Is the Spirit speaking similarly to you???

Lord, I have learned the lesson before many times.  True confession (like Nehemiah and the people in chapter 9) results naturally in obedience and change of behavior. Lord, bring me to true confession and repentance.  Show me where I dishonor You in my living.  Holy Spirit, provide me with the power and courage to change, to resist my culture and my personal sin-bents and live a God-honoring life. I pray in Jesus name. Amen.