Titus 1&2 -- A Generation Gap

Paul had left Titus in Crete to continue establishing a church there.  Paul wrote with authority, giving Titus a charge to appoint elders to help manage the church.  The traits he was to look for in candidates were designed to insure that God was glorified and man was not.

Paul recognized several ministries in the church in chapter 2.  Each was different and required a different approach to ministry.

The bottom line to all of this seemed to be found in 2:10 – “… so that in everything they do they will make the teaching of God attractive.”

Although there was a generation gap in this church, my commentary noted:  “The grace of God enables us to bridge the generation gap in the church.  One way to do this is for all members, young and old, to live up to the standards that God has set for our lives.”  There’s nothing unfair or one-sided about that!

Paul also told Titus to be the example more than being the exhorter.  “A pastor preaches best by his life … Whatever the pastor wants his church to be, he must first be himself.”

Father, help us in our own church to see the value You place on each person – particularly whatever age they are now.  Show us how valuable each is in helping build Your kingdom here on earth.  Let me not put anyone down.  Show me, instead, how You value them and are using them.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Zechariah 12-14 What An Ending!

With His great power, God will confuse the attackers coming against Jerusalem in the future and give its inhabitants great power to fight.  Seeing God fighting for them will open up their hearts to Him.  He’ll pour out a spirit of kindness and mercy on them and they will finally realize that Jesus is Messiah and that he is absolutely worthy of their respect.  In 12:11-14, we see that such true confession requires us to be alone with God.

Once the believing remnant understands their sin of rejecting Messiah, the fountain of His blood will purify them of that sin.  Even unclean spirits in the land will be removed.  There are remarkable Messianic verses to discover in these pages!

The Lord Himself will go to war with any nation that fights Israel, which will serve as proof that God is all-powerful and on His throne.  He will afflict the attackers with terrible diseases and Israel will easily collect the wealth left there by those armies.

When God establishes His kingdom and His throne in Jerusalem, all nations will come to worship Him during the Feast of Tabernacles.  Any nation not participating will receive no rainfall and a terrible disease will afflict those who don’t worship.  Everything will be set aside as holy in Jerusalem, and the priesthood of the believer will be the norm.  That will be the day!

Father, please show us Your power and might.  Remove uncleanness from us.  Cleanse us of desires that aren’t of You.  Help us to worship You completely and with a contrite heart.  Remove everything that hinders our worship of You!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Zechariah 9-11 Lots of Future History and More

Wow!  These chapters are chock full of “future history” (events that happened between then and now) and future events which still remain to be fulfilled.  My commentary says that the time we’re in fits between Zechariah 9:9 and 9:10.

The note that I found in my commentary that applies to us today says, “God’s people Israel will be regathered, redeemed, reunited as one nation, and rejoicing in the strength of the Lord.  But this same God can give the same blessings to His church today.  We’re a scattered people, divided and sometimes distant from each other, but the Lord can unite us in Christ and bring us together.  We’re fighting battles against the enemy, but the Lord can strengthen us and turn His helpless sheep into victorious war horses.  How much He is willing to do for us, if only we would admit our failures and unbelief and turn to Him for help.”

Father, we shouldn’t simply be waiting around for all of these prophecies to play out.  There’s a world that needs to know You and to also know that You have written the book and know the ending.  Help us to tell them and to lead them to You.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Zechariah 5-7 And What About Tradition?

After receiving his remaining visions from God, Zechariah was tasked with answering a question.  While the Jews were in Babylon, they’d added four new fasts to commemorate sad events related to the destruction of Jerusalem.  Now that the Temple was rebuilt, several religious leaders came to him to inquire whether they needed to continue a fast that commemorated the Temple’s destruction.

Zechariah gave them some news they hadn’t expected.  He questioned their motives for fasting and feasting – whether it was being done to honor God or strictly out of tradition.  He questioned whether they were going through outward motions instead of honoring the Lord from their hearts.  “To institute four fasts because of the tragedies that occurred in Jerusalem, and yet not repent because of the sins that caused these tragedies, was to miss the whole purpose of God’s discipline,” my commentary said.  “History reveals that it’s a difficult thing for many people to break with tradition.  It’s easier to have a religion of habit than a religion of the heart.”

Father, guide me to not make my worship of You be based on tradition.  Give me a thankful and responsive heart that helps me to obey You for Your glory and for nothing else.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Zechariah 4 -- Letting God Take Care Of Discouragement

Zerubbabel was facing quite a task getting the new Temple built:  “Discouragement among the people, opposition from the enemies around them, poor crops, an unstable economy, people not obeying God’s law …” were among his obstacles.  Yet here, the angel tells Zechariah to let Zerubbabel hear this:  “’You will not succeed by your own strength or power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord All-Powerful.”  What an awesome motivational message!

Many were complaining because this new Temple was not going to be nearly as grand as Solomon’s Temple.  My commentary answered, “Never despise the day of small things, for God is glorified in small things and uses them to accomplish great things.”  The Lord spoke to Zechariah, saying, “The people should not think that small beginnings are unimportant.”  We need to take Him at His word on this even today!

Father, it’s so easy to let discouragement take hold in our lives.  Instead, please help us to look to You.  What You’re doing will succeed because You have ordained it, not because of our own supposed strength or might.  Our ability is not nearly as important as our availability and our dependence on You.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Zechariah 3 -- A Courtroom Scene

In this night vision, Zechariah saw Joshua, the current High Priest, standing in front of Christ, the Angel of the Lord.  “Joshua is the defendant, Satan is the prosecuting attorney, and Jesus Christ is the defense attorney,” my commentary said.   The nation’s low spiritual level was evident in Joshua’s clothing, which the Hebrew word translates as “excrement-covered”.  “The Jews became defiled while they were attempting to serve the Lord.  If their service was unclean in God’s sight, what must their deliberate sins have been like!” my commentary added.

Satan tried to accuse, but God cut him off with His grace.  My commentary also added:  “When Satan talks to us about God, he lies, but when he talks to God about us, he tells the truth.”

Despite Satan’s accusations here, God cleansed and forgave, taking away sin.  “Don’t get the erroneous idea that the Father yearns to punish us and the Son pleads with Him to change His mind, because that isn’t the picture at all.  The Father and the Son both love us and want the best for us, but God can’t ignore our sins and still be a holy God.”

What Satan forgot was that he “cannot accuse us, nor God condemn us, for sins for which Christ died!” my commentary said.

Joshua (representing Israel) was cleansed and restored, and that “always involves responsibility.  Joshua and his fellow priests weren’t put on probation; they were cleansed and restored to service.”

Father, thank You for cleansing me when I sin and for not disqualifying me for service, but restoring me to service.  You love for me is incredible!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Zechariah 2 -- Jesus Talking About Us In The Old Testament!

Zechariah is given another night vision.  The Angel of the Lord, Jesus Christ in pre-incarnate form, is seen measuring Jerusalem – surveying it as only the owner and authority over it could do.  He makes an announcement that one day Jerusalem would see such expansion that the walls would be unable to contain it.  Jesus would protect it Himself, and His glory would reside there.  This would be such an encouragement to those working to rebuild the city at that time, in spite of enemy attacks.

Jesus says something here that I dearly love:  “Whoever touches you hurts what is precious to Me.”  As children of God, we are dear to His heart, and He watches over us with a strong love!

His future entrance into the city is once again announced, and He also says that people from all nations will be His people, and that we will know that God has sent Him.  What a wonderful day when the whole world understands!

Father, my heart overflows as I realize that, here in the Old Testament, You and Your Son were thinking about me – that You already knew that I’d become Yours, and that I would be precious to You, despite my sins!  Thank You for such wonderful encouragement!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Zechariah 1 -- Supposed To Be About The Future, But Check Out The Past

My Bible's opening comments about Zechariah speak over and over about its references to the future -- even OUR future.  But something snagged my attention in chapter 1 -- the talk of ancestors:

"The Lord said, 'The Lord was very angry with your ancestors ... Don't be like your ancestors.  THEY WOULDN'T LISTEN OR PAY ATTENTION TO ME,' says The Lord.  'Your ancestors are dead...'"

But then in the next sentence I read, "I commanded my words and laws to my servants, the prophets, and they preached to your ancestors, WHO RETURNED TO ME."

It wasn't apparently the PREACHING but God's PUNISHMENT that returned them to Him.  Sometimes we can talk all we want, with little or no effect.  It's instead the living out of the consequences of sin that finally produce repentance.

Father God, help me and those I love to understand You are a just and holy God, and that You do produce consequences for our disobedience in Your LOVE for us so that we WILL return to You.  Let us not move away from You because of those consequences, but instead help us to move CLOSER to You as we SEE THE LOVE.

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Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

The Book of Ezra -- A Father's Day Challenge

I decided to read this entire book at one time -- my Father's Day worship while in Branson.  Loved many things I read:

"The Lord CAUSED Cyrus to ...."

"Then the family leaders ... got ready to go to Jerusalem -- everyone God had CAUSED to WANT to go to Jerusalem..."  

Say what you want, but The Lord God IS supreme and He DOES influence the affairs of men!

When Zerubbabel and his group arrived in Jerusalem, the city was gone.  Even the foundation of the Temple was gone.  They had to start from absolute scratch!  But God had CAUSED the king of Persia, Cyrus, to PAY for not only the trip, but the Temple reconstruction as well!

Yes, there WERE enemies of the rebuilding, and they wrote a letter back to King Xerxes, who reigned after Cyrus, wanting the construction stopped.  The letter may have had no effect, so later, they wrote another letter to the new king, Artaxerxes.  Their letter rehearsed the disobedience of the Jewish people to worldly authorities, and conveniently omitted the fact that Cyrus had ordered the rebuilding!  Not knowing the truth, Artaxerxes took the bait and stopped the rebuilding.

God CAUSED the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to tell the Israelites to restart the Temple construction.  The local governor, probably concerned about his job, wrote to the new king, Darius, informing him that the Jews were once again rebuilding the Temple.  He did, however, cover his bases and mentioned that the Jews claimed King Cyrus had ordered the work done.

King Darius decided that discretion was likely the better part of valor and responded by telling the local authorities to stay out of the way, except for paying the bills for the construction!  He also added a threat for good measure:  anyone attempting to CHANGE his decree would have a wooden beam pulled from their home (destroying it, of course) and the wooden beam was to be driven through the BODY of the conspirator!

Some sixty years passed in the middle of all this, and Ezra arrived in Jerusalem while Artaxerxes was still the ruler.  "Ezra received everything he asked for from the king, becuase THE LORD HIS GOD WAS HELPING HIM."  "Ezra had worked hard to know and obey the Teachings of The Lord and to teach his rules and commands to the Israelites."  Ezra descended directly from Aaron, the brother of Moses.

King Artaxerxes had tasked Ezra with this:  "Ezra, you are sent by the king ... to ask HOW Judah and Jerusalem are OBEYING the Law of your God, which you are carrying with you."  He was also given silver and gold from the king for use in the Temple for sacrifices.  He also was given orders for the local governor to provide daily financial support to the Temple, saying, "We do not want God to be angry with the king and his sons."  Surprisingly, he also told Ezra, "Whoever does NOT OBEY the law of your God or of the king MUST BE PUNISHED."

When Ezra arrived, he sent his representatives to survey the spiritual obedience of the Jewish people, and he didn't receive a good report.  "When I heard this, I angrily tore my robe and coat, pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat down in shock."  How many of us have ever reacted like that to spiritual conditions around us?  At the evening prayer, still wearing his shame, he fell on his knees and prayed, "My God, I am too ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, because our sins are so many.  They are higher than our heads ... What has happened to us is our own fault.  WE have done these evil things, and our guilt is great.  But You, our God, have punished us LESS than we deserve..."

Seeing this, the men of Israel decided that Ezra was right.  They HAD sinned by marrying outside of their Jewish ancestry.  And they set about divorcing the women they'd married and starting over with God. 

Father, sometimes a hard reset is needed.  And this would have been a hard one.  Thank You for showing us when we are failing to follow Your law and Your will for our lives.  Help us to decide to make those hard resets and get back on track with You.  Thank You for Your kindness, Your forgiveness, and Your mercy and grace!

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Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Nehemiah 11-13 Happy, Happy, (Not) Happy

I'm trying to get my arms around this, because something isn't quite right.  They were thrilled that they now had Jerusalem protected by walls.  They had a great worship service to commemorate it, but then they had to throw lots to see who would "volunteer" to stay IN Jerusalem and the rest were going back to their own lands!  Sounds like it wasn't the place to live after all!  But it says, "The people offered many sacrifices that day and were HAPPY because God had given them great joy.  The women and children were HAPPY.  The sound of HAPPINESS in Jerusalem could be heard far away."  But they didn't want to live there??

Nehemiah returned to Babylon to report to the king, then finally returned after a period of time.  Ezra had read from the Word of God that people from Ammon and Moab were never to be allowed in the meeting to worship because of their treachery as the Israelites were moving from Egypt to the Promised Land.  Yet when Nehemiah returned he discovered that the high priest had allowed Tobiah, who was an Ammonite, to use a storeroom IN THE TEMPLE!  He quickly remedied that.

The happy people, though, had also begun to allow foreign merchants to enter the city on the Sabbath, and they were AGAIN purchasing from them ON THE SABBATH.  Nehemiah had to correct that as well!  Also, Israelites were intermarrying with Gentiles again.  Nehemiah sounds like he'd about had enough, because he wrote, "I argued with those people, put curses on them, hit some of them, and pulled out their hair.  I forced them to make a promise to God..."  I don't know just how productive those activities were.  I was facing something similar last night, but thankfully didn't feel God leading me to go QUITE that far with my son.  I think it would have been very counterproductive.

Father, give me Your Godly wisdom and discernment.  Show me the way to insure cooperation and behavior that is pleasing to You.   Most of all, don't let me through any action of my own cause others to doubt that I am Yours.

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Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Nehemiah 10 -- Would WE Have Done It?

The Jewish people with Nehemiah all gathered together and took an oath.  It says that it was tied to a curse in case they broke it, but the curse wasn't listed with the oath.

They swore not to let their children marry non-Jews.  They swore not to purchase any items on the Sabbath or on any holy days.  They swore not to plant their fields in crops every seventh year. 

They swore to give an 1/8 oz of silver to the Temple every year and drew lots to determine when each family would haul wood to the Temple each year for burning the offerings. 

They swore to bring the first bushel of every crop, every fruit and vegetable; the first measure of every year's pressing of olive oil, and the first young born of each animal as well.

They also agreed to forgive any debts they were owed by others every seven years.

Would we have done that?  How hard would it have been to take that gallon of olive oil they'd worked so hard to harvest and press?  That treasured first little calf?  And in that sixth and seventh year, would we be hesitant to lend, knowing we might not get it back?  And how tempting might it be to run to the market to get something rather than do without on Saturday?

And about that wood-- might we try to trade out with someone else several times so that we conveniently wouldn't end up being inconvenienced by having to labor at the church?

Father, they were putting feet to their promises.  Help me to do the same, not fudging, not figuring ways around, not hesitating to help.  You are definitely worth it!

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Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Nehemiah 9 -- Closest During Chastening

The people had just gone through the Day of Atonement where was to remove their sin.  They should have then been celebrating, but as Ezra continued to read God’s Word, it hit them just how gracious and merciful God had been with them.  They began to confess the sins of their ancestors and their own sins.  They realized how much they didn’t deserve to be back in the Promised Land.

My commentary said, “How could these people turn their backs on God after all He had done for them?  They did not truly LOVE Him.  Their obedience was only an outward form; it didn’t come from their hearts.  In their hearts, they were still living in Egypt and wanting to return there.  They did not have a living faith in God but were willing to receive His help and enjoy His gifts.”

They saw all of this during these 6-hour preaching-and-prayer meetings they were having each day.  They saw that 70 years in Babylon had been for their own good, and that God’s chastening showed His love.  My commentary added, “God’s chastening is as much an evidence of His love as is His bountiful supply of our needs.  We should be grateful that God loves us too much to allow us to become spoiled children.  The Father is never as close to us as when He is chastening us.”

Father, thank You for Your love – a love so great that You refuse to leave me as I am in my sin.  Instead, You work to help me see my sin, admit it, and turn my heart back to You.  Thank You for never stopping loving me, even when I’m at my most unlovable.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Nehemiah 8 -- An Important Sequence

I once heard Greg Matte preach on this chapter.  He pointed out the relevant timing (it was the Jewish New Year – a time for introspection), the relevant location (at the Water Gate – where their spiritual thirst would be quenched), and the relevant leadership present (Nehemiah and Ezra with the people).

My commentary summed up what the people were feeling:  “When God’s people get away from loving, reading, and obeying the Word of God, they lose the blessing of God.  If we want to be like fruitful trees, we must delight in God’s Word …”  They had to understand the Word before they could rejoice in it.  The people actually had problems rejoicing because they became so convicted of what they hadn’t been doing.  But Ezra read them God’s Word and God transformed their minds (their understanding), their hearts (rejoicing), and their will (obeying).

No one back then had personal copies of God’s Word.  When Ezra brought out the nation’s copy of the Word of God and opened the scroll, the people immediately stood up in honor of the Word.  They remained standing for hours as he read and explained it.  This continued for a week.

Hearing the Word convicted the people of their sins, and this caused great mourning.  But they’d just celebrated the annual Day of Atonement, when God had dealt with their sins!  They should therefore have been celebrating and rejoicing in His forgiveness.  “It is as wrong to mourn when God has forgiven us as it is to rejoice when sin has conquered us.  The sinner has no reason for rejoicing and the forgiven child of God has no reason for mourning,” my commentary said.

Once we’ve been convicted, repented, and God has forgiven us, we not only are to rejoice.  We are also to obey God’s Word.  Here, they were just in time to do that with the Feast of Shelters, which included sharing food with others who didn’t have much.  “The mind grows by taking in, but the heart grows by giving out.”  This balanced their lives.

Father, thank You for a fresh dose of conviction.  I needed it.  Thank You for the joy it brings in spite of the sadness I feel when I realize I’ve disobeyed.  Please grow my obedience and my joy and lead me to celebrate Your love and mercy and grace in my life!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Nehemiah 7 -- Nuggets Hidden Under The Numbers

As I began reading, I wondered just what I’d get out of this long list of names, but as always, God is faithful!  From my commentary, He pointed out “three important steps that must be taken by any leader in order to protect the people and the work that has been done:  Enlisting leadership, establishing citizenship, and encouraging worship.”

Nehemiah looked for and found men with two wonderful qualities:  they were faithful to God and they feared God.  Their greatest ability was their dependability, my commentary noted.

Nehemiah also had to appoint guards, for what good are walls and gates without someone to make use of them?  My commentary says the message for us today is “If God’s people don’t protect what they have accomplished for the Lord, the enemy will come in and take it over.  Paul’s admonition must be heeded:  ‘And having done all, to stand.’”

Finally, leaders are dealers in hope, it said, and God had a message of hope for the city of Jerusalem and its inhabitants:  “The righteous can rebuild what has been torn down and start over again … God keeps accounts of His servants … The Lord is able to keep His work going … No matter how discouraging the situation might be, God is able to accomplish His purposes if we will trust Him and do His will.”

Father, don’t let discouragement set in.  I need it kept at bay in all areas of my life.  Continue to be my hope, and help me to be hope to others.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Nehemiah 6 -- Seeing the Attacks for What They Were

The walls were finished and the gates were hung.  Nehemiah’s enemies therefore had to try a different angle of attack.  My commentary noted four strategies Satan used in attacking Nehemiah, which he still uses today:

First, it was compromise:  “We will help you work.”  It was time for the enemies to join Nehemiah’s group and then try to take over.  “Once the enemy gets a foothold in a ministry, he starts to weaken the work from within … leaders must take care that they cooperate with the right people at the right time for the right purpose, otherwise they may end up cooperating with the enemy … When you invite the devil to join your team, expect him to change the rules and the goals, and expect to be defeated.”

Nehemiah had three convictions that kept this from happening:  “He knew they were lying and wanted to kill him, he was convinced of the greatness of the work God wanted him to do, and the Jews had nothing in common with Sanballat, so there could be no basis for cooperation,” my commentary said.

Second, it was slander:  “We will tell everybody about you.”  The enemies accused Nehemiah of sedition, of fomenting a rebellion.  How did Nehemiah handle that?  “He simply denied the reports, prayed to God for strength, and went back to work.  He knew that his character was such that no honest person would believe the false reports.  If we take care of our character, we can trust God to take care of our reputation.”

Thirdly, it was threats:  “We will protect your life.”  The enemy tried to tell Nehemiah he was in danger, so he’d go into hiding and be sidelined.  Yet Nehemiah knew that a layman was forbidden from entering the Temple in the law of Moses, and therefore he determined that this was not a message from God.

Finally, it was intrigue:  “We will not give up.”  “Satan is not a quitter, but stays on the field even after it looks as if he has lost the battle.  Many a careless Christian has won the war but afterward lost the victory … If you can’t see Satan working, it’s probably because he has gone underground.  Actually, we are safer when we can see him at work.”

Despite the attacks, Nehemiah persisted, and what he knew, we need to remember – when God begins a work, He completes it.

Father, we need great discernment as Satan attacks us.  Keep us from believing the lies of the enemy.  Allow us to see the truth behind compromise, slander, threats, and intrigue.  These have no place in Christian service.  Allow us to know what is of You and what is of the devil.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Nehemiah 5 -- Leadership Lessons

Nehemiah became aware of financial abuse occurring within the community of Jews who’d come back to Jerusalem.  A famine was causing foot shortages, higher prices, and predatory lending.  Nehemiah feared God and immediately worked to correct the problem.  “The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else,” my commentary said.

Being a godly leader doesn’t always win you points with those you lead.  “Some of the people may not have appreciated their leaders as they should, but that didn’t upset Nehemiah.  He knew that the final assessment would come from the Lord, and he was willing to wait.”

It also mentioned important leadership lessons to take away:  “Expect problems to arise among the people… Whenever God’s work is prospering, the enemy sees to it that trouble begins.  Don’t be surprised when people can’t always get along with each other…. Confront the problem courageously … Every problem that you ignore will only go underground, grow deeper roots, and bear bitter fruits.  Pray for God’s help and tackle the problem as soon as possible…  Be sure that your own integrity is intact.  A guilty conscience will rob you of the spiritual authority you need to give proper leadership…  See in every problem an opportunity for the Lord to work.”

Father, thank you for reminding me that in every situation, it should be You leading and not me.  Help me to let You shine through me, particularly in the difficult times.  Let others know that You are the one at work, not me.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Nehemiah 4 -- Ways To Offset Attacks

As work proceeded on the walls and gates, God’s enemies became infuriated.  Their first method of attack was ridicule.  Listening to ridicule can quickly pull us down.  Nehemiah’s response is good for us to emulate.  He didn’t respond to it.  He prayed and asked God to fight this attack.  Reading Nehemiah’s prayers, I was almost about to question his prayer itself, until I read what my commentary had to say:  “We must remember that Nehemiah was praying as a servant of God concerned for the glory of God.  He was not requesting personal vengeance but official vindication for God’s people.  The enemy had blasphemously provoked God before the builders, and this was a terrible sin.”

For us, my commentary said that words from our enemies won’t harm us unless we let them get into our system and poison us, giving Satan a foothold to launch another attack.  “The best thing to do is to pray and commit the whole thing to the Lord, and then get back to work!  Anything that keeps you from doing what God has called you to do will only help the enemy.”

There were also intimidating plots hatched.  Enemies were on all sides of Jerusalem and they hoped the threat of invasion might stop the work.  Nehemiah fought this by arming the workers and posting guards.

The enemy also tried discouragement from Jews living near the enemy and fear of impending attacks.  “Fear and faith cannot live together in the same heart … If we fear the Lord, we need not fear the enemy … We must remind ourselves of the greatness of God … If we look at the problem through the greatness of God, we will have confidence and succeed … It is good to remind ourselves that the will of God comes from the heart of God and that we need not be afraid.”

Father, when I am afraid, remind me that You have given me the answer already – “I trust You, God!”  That trust You taught me has carried me through two international adoptions and many trials over the years.  If You want something done, nothing can stop it if my heart is fixed upon You!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Nehemiah 3 -- Reading Between the Line (And the People)

I’m sure that back when this was occurring, people could have told us much about why so-and-so was working next to someone else, and what was important about the motivations behind where they worked.  Some may have been correct and others wildly off-base, as it can be today.  Forgetting that, we can still gain a lot of insight by what we’re shown here.  My commentary began by mentioning how the residents had little impetus to improve their own homes because, with the walls down, nothing was safe from invasions.  “Over the years, they’d become accustomed to this, content to live with the status quo.”  We’ve got to watch out for that, too!

“The people finished this difficult task (in just 52 days!) because they obeyed the same leader, kept their eyes on the same goal, and worked together for the glory of God.  Neither the enemy outside the city nor the difficulties inside the city distracted them from their God-given task.  Like Paul, they said, ‘This one thing I do.’”

There was much to notice about the people mentioned, but here are just the highlights, according to my commentary:

God uses all kinds of people.

Some people will not work.

Some people do more work than others.

Some people work harder than others.

Finally, it said, “No one person could have accomplished the work of repairing the walls and restoring the gates.  It took leadership on Nehemiah’s part and cooperation on the part of the people.  Each had a place to fill and a job to do.  So it is with the church today:  We must work together if we are to finish the work to the glory of God.”

Father, help each of us to see our own part, assigned by You, that we should be doing.  Help us not to worry about someone else’s, but to trust that You have it all well in hand.  Lead us together to glorify You in all that we do – not ourselves.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Nehemiah 1-2 An Awesome New Look At Prayer

My commentary brought out some wonderful wisdom based on these verses:

“For nearly a century, the Jewish remnant had been back in their own land, and Nehemiah could have joined them, but he chose to remain in the palace.  It turned out that God had a work for him to do there that he could not have accomplished elsewhere.  God put Nehemiah in Susa just as He had put Esther there a generation before, and just as He had put Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon.  When God wants to accomplish a work, He always prepares His workers and puts them in the right places at the right time.”

Nehemiah care enough to pray about the situation in Jerusalem, and my commentary said,” In whatever man does without God, he must fail miserably, or succeed more miserably.  Nehemiah succeeded because he depended on God.”

“The greater part of Nehemiah’s prayer was devoted to confession of sin … He prayed for himself and the nation … He identified himself with the sins of a generation he didn’t even know.  It would have been easy to look back and blame his ancestors for the reproach of Jerusalem, but Nehemiah looked within and blamed himself.  ‘We have sinned.  We have dealt very corruptly.’”

“If God is going to answer prayer, He must start by working in the one doing the praying!  He works in us and through us to help us see our prayers answered … Real prayer keeps your heart and your head in balance so your burden doesn’t make you impatient to run ahead of the Lord and ruin everything.”

“When you wait on the Lord in prayer, you are not wasting your time; you are investing it.  God is preparing both you and your circumstances so that His purposes will be accomplished.  However, when the right time arrives for us to act by faith, we dare not delay.”

Father, thank You for showing me these new ways to see my prayer life.  Guide me to remember them and use them to come closer to You to get Your will done on earth – not my will done in heaven.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford