here we go again

Text: Nehemiah 13

Sometimes real life can be a lot like church camp. All sweaty and sunburned, God shows us our sin, a new passion is lit within us and we commit or recommit our lives to obedience and Christian music every twelve months or so.

Of course, it doesn’t take long before our church camp high wears off. We aren’t going to chapel twice a day, the songs we sing at church aren’t nearly as hip, we aren’t eating lunch across the table from our youth pastor, and doggone it, our parents just don’t understand.

It’s a little humorous when we think of the Israelites as middle school campers, but it’s a lot less pretty when we think of their pattern of disobedience as church members, leaders, and spouses.

God has just done an awesome thing for them – He has rebuilt their wall and restored their gates. Not only that, the Israelites have also been restored spiritually. They’re a city again, brought back from exile and thriving in every way. Honestly, I think many of them wondered if they’d ever see this day again. And so, they re-covenanted with God (10:37-39). And this time, they reallydomeanit.

Only, Nehemiah goes back to Babylon to serve the king. All their confessing and campfire songs have become a clouded memory. And Israel is forgetting their covenant – forgetting their God – again.

Why do you think Nehemiah ends the way it does? With failure and backsliding? With corruption and disobedience? What does God want us to see here about Himself and the Church?

I would love to give you a tidy list of bullet points here with all the reasons why I think so. But instead, I see this as an awesome opportunity to share as a community. What is God telling us here? Why did He sovereignly inspire the book of Nehemiah in this way?

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And, a little bit of happy news:

This Saturday, June 1st, SheReadsTruth is turning 1 year old! Can you believe it! God has been so faithful, so near, and so alive in our community over the past twelve months, all we want to do it point to Him and say, “WOW!”

For fun and for His glory, we invite you to participate in a vlog (yes, video! we want to see your faces!!) link-up this Saturday. We know that God has been mightily at work this year, and we want to hear from you –

How have you seen His faithfulness this year?

How has the Holy Spirit wrecked and rebuilt you?

What truths have you read in His Word that have drawn you closer and deeper in relationship with Him?

This is about Him, sisters. Take the time, set up a video camera or an iPhone or that little camera on your laptop. Wear your jammies or an evening gown, shower or throw on a ball cap, talk for thirty seconds or thirty minutes – it’s up to you! Just say hello, introduce yourself, and testify to His goodness is a day filled with praise. On Saturday you’ll have the opportunity to link to this video (whether it’s posted on your blog, uploaded to YouTube, shared on Facebook or on Twitter), and we will all be able to visit one another and hear (and watch) testimony after testimony of his great love.