Nehemiah Honors the Church

Read Nehemiah 9-10
 
Nehemiah 10:30 “We promise not to give our daughters in marriage to the peoples around us or take their daughters for our sons.”
 
THIS sentence begins a contract between the people of Jerusalem and God. With Jerusalem essentially rebuilt, the walls and gates reconstructed, Nehemiah could now have his people focus on rebuilding their spiritual house as individuals, as clans and as a nation. God formed the family to represent him on earth. Nehemiah is establishing the integrity of the family in Judah to be the foundation of the new nation.
    When you read this contract in Chapter 10, you will see the men make commitments to marry within their own nation. This is very crucial to the renewed nation as it was to Israel coming from Egypt. Remember, this is to help prevent false worship in Israel. A significant catalyst for Israel’s disobedience throughout the centuries prior to this is the marriage of pagan men and women. They influenced many Israelites away from God.
    In addition, the men also promise to observe the Sabbath, to bring the firstfruits of harvest to the priests, to set aside money for worship, and to commit all of their possessions to the LORD. The contract concludes with this statement: Nehemiah 10:39 “We will not neglect the house of our God.”
    As we today are people who say, “Jesus is my Lord.” I’m wondering if we’re committed to care for our homes, our spiritual lives and our church? Marriage, family and the church are all formed to exhibit God’s character  the world. These relationships are precious to our Holy God. Jesus has suffered and died that we would bear God’s image in each aspect of our lives. He has sent his Holy Spirit to help and empower us. The Spirit has given men and women particular spiritual gifts to fulfill God’s will to be His people.
    In Nehemiah’s time, God brought people returning from exile into these communities of fellowship to show God’s glory and grace to the foreign nations. Today, he has saved us to do the same. In essence, we are to be in a true, devoted relationship with God and one another, so we can demonstrate God’s glory and grace to the world.
 
Pause and Consider: God’s will is you live in the power of Jesus’ resurrection to bear his image.