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Today is Thursday June 10, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Nehemiah chapters 11-12. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser:
http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-june-10


Today's Message: Get to Work
Though all true Christians love the Lord, not all are willing to give up personal interests and financial securities to do what is needed. Jesus said, “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” - Luke 10:2. There is much work to be done before Jesus returns, but sadly many Christians will sit on the sidelines instead of pitching in and doing what is needed and commanded by Jesus Himself. Jesus spent forty days on earth after He resurrected and before He ascended back up to heaven He gave a command to all who are saved. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” - Matthew 28:18-20. Perhaps the most important task of all that Jesus has given us is to tell the Gospel to all who do not know Christ. There truly are many, many, many, who are not saved, but only about one out of ten Christians will do the labor to see people saved. As Christians, we need to remember that we are only saved through the blood shed of our Lord Jesus Christ, the least we can do is help Him our by telling others how they too can come to know Christ.

Ordinary people, although not skilled in building walls, had willingly gone to work under Nehemiah's leadership and did the best they could to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem. After everything was complete, only a minority of the people who left Persia (Babylon) to rebuild Jerusalem actually lived inside the city's walls. Most of the Jews lived in suburbs where they could grow crops, pasture their animals, and make a living more easily. Because of this, there were not enough people living in Jerusalem to maintain and protect it. “And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities. And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants.” - Nehemiah 11:1-3. Jerusalem is the only city on earth called by God the holy city and where our Creator chose to put His Name. It was still in ruins and the people had a lot of work to do to get it rebuilt. Only one in ten people chose to forsake their comfortable living to go into Jerusalem to rebuild the city. It is not an easy task to serve the Lord at times, there are many uncomfortable situations that come our way, but we must realize that every hurdle we jump over is one more closer to the finish line which leads to the Kingdom of God.

Nehemiah went to the people and convinced many to return to putting God first in their lives, “And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.... Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off. And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited. And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son. For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God. And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron.” - Nehemiah 12:27,43-47. It was a revival, the people returned to God with great joy and forsook their own personal needs to rebuild the city. It can be easy to get so sidetracked when the pressures of life come knocking at the door, and sadly, it is during times like these when we can lose sight of God. That's when it is time for a revival, a personal praise and worship to the Lord. He will take care of us, but we must seek Him first.

Just as the Lord called His people out of Persia to forsake personal gain, to rebuild Jerusalem, and to be free to worship Him, so our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has called us to seek Him first. “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” - Matthew 6:31-33. We do not need to be worried about the things we are in need of, God knows what we need. If we seek Him first, He will take care of everything. I am self employed so I do not get a steady pay check, but when the time comes and I am in need of funds God is always there and provides me with work. In fact, if I take God with me while I am working, the work triples and I get paid for one job what would take me at least three jobs. Praise God! It is time to go to God and ask Him what jobs need to be done, He has given you so many blessings, thank Him for them by helping Him out a little bit. There are so many people lost and in need to know the Savior, tell them about Him, you do not have to know the Bible, just know Jesus and tell them how you came to know Him. There is a lot of work to be done, the harvest is plenty, but few a willing to bring in the crops, be a part of the few, do some work. No job is truly as satisfying as one done with compassion and labor. Let's get to work and see God do some amazing things in our lives. Praise God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and the rest of the week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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