We don’t know a great deal about Nehemiah, except what we learn from
the book that bears his name. He was one of the Jews of the Dispersion, following
Israel’s deportation into Babylon, and was in the service of cupbearer to the
Persian king. Persia had by this time conquered Babylonia and was set up as a
sprawling and mighty kingdom. Somewhere along the line, he heard of the desolate
condition of Jerusalem, his heart became heavy, and caused him to weep, mourn,
fast and go to God in prayer. Communication with God in prayer, is where many great
things originate. Nehemiah’s prayer did not begin with requests or petitions,
but with confession of sin. Even though he lived many years after the Jews had
been removed from their land to a foreign nation because they had turned away
from the Lord, he confessed to God their sin and his own, as one. He took personal
responsibility and included himself in the sin that brought God’s judgement
against Israel, even if at that time he wasn’t yet born, and had probably never
been in Israel personally! It is a prayer God answers, and a need God provides.
It is a prayer steeped in repentance and sorrow, based on God’s word, and on
fire with true humility. When we see wrong doing in the church, this is the kind
of response that gets God’s attention! If only we would pray like Nehemiah did,
taking personal responsibility for the communal performance of the church! It
is naturally difficult for us to take on the shame and guilt of someone else’s
unrighteousness, but if we reasoned it through, we would see that when one
member in the body is sick, the whole body feels it and does not attack it, but
participates in the healing process! That healing starts by admitting that we
collectively have sinned before God, and need His mercy and grace. Instead we
are often given to passing judgment, expressing negative and destructive
criticism, attacking the spiritually sick with accusations, and turning our
backs on those who are struggling, as if it is nothing to do with us! In fact,
we become so detached from the reality of being part of the church, that even
when we personally commit sin, we do not think of it as affecting the rest of
the family of God! As lively members of the body of Christ, let us develop a
deep and sincere sense of responsibility, firstly that we may be quick to
repent and cleanse our own souls of any personal unrighteousness against God,
and secondly to be just as willing to go to prayer and repent, for the wrong we
may see our brother commit. In true sincerity and humility recognising that we
should bear a common, contrite and compassionate burden, when it comes to
praying and pleading with God to cleanse and restore the church!
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
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