Text: Nehemiah 9:1-37, Romans 8:3-4
I See Christ
Y’all want to do something different today? (I’m just going to assume you’re saying yes here…) Let’s turn to a fresh page of journal paper and write the last part of verse 33 across the top.
“For you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly.” (9:33b, ESV)
Under that, divide your page into two columns. In the column on the left, write the ways in which God dealt faithfully with the Israelites as described in chapter nine. In the right column, list the ways the Israelites acted wickedly in response.
I’ll give you a moment.
Finished? Okay, take a look at your list. What do you see?
I don’t need it to show you how ungrateful the Israelites were. I don’t even need this list to make you see yourself in their unfaithfulness today.
I want you to see God on this page.
“But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them” (9:17b, ESV).
Do you see Him there on the page? Lavishing good gifts, provisions, laws of protection, even great rescues and wondrous signs on His people – even in their wickedness.
You know whom else I see there on that page? I see Christ. Or at least I see His shadow.
You see, the page and the columns weren’t going to get better. The people were always going to fail. And, the Mosaic Covenant was always going to be conditional: it offered life and prosperity for obedience, but disobedience resulted in death and destruction. The People of Israel were unable to save themselves and, even in this tiny sliver of the Old Testament, a clear need for a Substitute is apparent. The Israelites needed Jesus. They needed Righteousness to come down in their place.
“For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:3-4, ESV).
The Israelites recognize their grave misdeeds and are confessing their need for the Father’s mercy.
“For you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly.”
And when it’s all laid out in the open, no matter what the page says, no matter how painfully our unfaithfulness looks compared to His sovereign faithfulness, all that’s left to see is Christ.
I am so grateful for the healing power of God through his Son, Jesus Christ. I personally have been saved from potentially life taking events through God's grace. It has been through those physical events that I have come to see the soul-saving power of Christ. This was such a graphic exercise to illustrate God's Faithfulness regardless of our sinful nature; and how repentance allows us to see Christ in our life again. Thank-you for the message this morning!!!
I read the comments first, because I wasn't sure what I wanted to say. all I can say here is that I do the same thing as the Israellites, but god is faithful! thank you, god and I want to rely on Your strength to do this, because I can't do it myself.
Wow! Wow! Wow! I find myself saying this a lot throughout this study, I am in love with the book of Nehemiah, because of the firmness of truth that pours out of the pages, because of the convictions I feel every morning when I close up my bible and begin to journal. I don't know about you sisters, but I find myself challenging myself daily to become more like Nehemiah. I have to say that today's exercise has really got me thinking, how am I like the Isrealites? I am walking away from today's study thankful for a loving God who provides for me even amidst my wicked ways!
Thanks for a great devotion!
Thank you for this exercise! It just lays it out there so simply and clearly. Thank you, Jesus! Thank you so much for what you did for us on the cross…for us unworthy, ungrateful sinners.
"Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith." Philippians 3:8-9
God's people don't have the best track record when it comes to remaining faithful. Oh man, neither do I. I want to take control and jump in when circumstances seem to be going in an unexpected direction. Instead of trusting God, it's too easy to raise a "golden calf" and attribute the success I have obtained to anything BUT God. If I look around, there is "manna" filling my stomach…but where else does it come from? Day in and day out, the provision and protection over my household. I cannot give credit to anything or anyone OTHER than the Lord. It's overwhelming to really think about it.
I just wanted to once again thank all of my SRT sisters who have prayed for my friend Bruce and his family after he was given over to die from flesh-eating disease. As some of you may recall, the doctors discovered the disease in his leg from his knee to his buttocks. He landed up on life-support within days and his organs were shutting down very quickly.
Many people from all over the world stood together in daily vigil and prayed for Bruce and I am happy to report that after 60+ days in hospital, he is finally home with his family this week. Last Sunday he surprised his congregation–where he ministered full-time–by WALKING down the aisle and sharing his testimony. I am including the video link for anyone who is interested in viewing it. Talk about faith-building!
The video begins with a sermon, but if you skip to 9 minutes in, you'll see Bruce walking in with his wife (the congregation cheering) and sharing his story. Be blessed! http://vimeo.com/66830673
Thanks for sharing Bruce's story, I literally sat in tears as I listened to him share his story! Our God is SO good!
Yes, so awesome! I couldn't sleep last night and sat and watched it all too! What a miracle!! Wake up Canada!! Wake up USA! God is still performing miracles today! Wow!
Wow. Thanks for sharing this, God is so amazing!!!
Praise God! Thank you for sharing this wonderful testimony and opportunity to lift Bruce, family and all to the Lord! Giving thanks for this powerful miracle JuneBug!
JuneBug,
PRAISE GOD! Thanks so much for sharimg this video. I have prayed a lot for Bruce. The amazing power and grace of our Lord & Savior! Hallelujah !
Wow!! Junebug, thank you for sharing this video!!! Praise God!!! Praise God!!!
good morning ladies!
May you be blessed and filled with the Holy Spirit until you overflow onto everyone you meet today!:)
I know both these reading passages but reading them side by side brought a whole new revelation! What an awesome reminder to stay focused on Jesus, not my sinful past. Great start to this long weekend!
Oops oh my fingers. Its freeing to know that even if I did none of the above jesus would still love me
Would still want me.
Lord, thank you for your unconditional love toward me. Help me to extend the same toward my brothers and sisters. Amen.
Ladies have a beautiful day!