… without ceasing…

One question in our small group Bible study was, “What makes you feel most loved: when someone says they love you, or when they do actions that show love?” Most in the group said both. A few cited one of the love languages from a book on that topic.

I’ve since thought about it and notice that one way I feel loved is when I’m standing alone in a crowd and someone spots me, their eyes light up and they hurry over to talk.

Today’s reading is about being delighted in God and how nearness to Him is “the only all-satisfying experience of the universe.” In other words, when I see or sense Him, my eyes light up and I rush to talk with Him. “Pray without ceasing” is a reality with constant conversation about everything with Jesus. This is not to make God feel loved but has the reverse effect; it makes me feel loved!

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. (Psalm 63:1–2)

David prayed this way while he was in the wilderness. He was called a man after God’s own heart and that indicates the way we were created to be. I am at my created best when I am longing for God and seeking Him. This can include obeying all His commands, believing all His Word, thanking Him for all His gifts, yet the essence of loving God is enjoying all that He is, delighting in Him, especially when desolation surrounds and life is not comfortable.

This past week was filled with stresses. Strokes and heart attacks in folks too young for such unexpected events. Friends needing financial help, one because of an injury, another because of an accident and unexpected insurance problems, and several who needed help with expenses. Two families were moving, one involving a very pregnant mom who is having her baby today, and the other a young father with many responsibilities besides moving. He was remodeling the house with only a few days to make it livable. We could not physically chip in but everyone involved requested prayer support. My hubby visited a friend dying in hospice care in another city. We had a family pet in surgery and not too happy about it, plus two major celebration events. Add to that some decisions with actions involving our own home.

Each event in itself was bearable, but all happening in a few days felt like too much for people our age! However, the presence of our loving God gave us the attitude and stamina needed, and of course He talked with us.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

PRAY: Jesus, Your presence made the difference in all events and the choices we made. Naps became extremely appealing this week, yet somehow You kept helping us with stamina and choices to do otherwise — move now and nap later. Truly You renew the strength of those who wait upon You — and a huge part of that is also delighting in You and that marvel of constant conversation. My gratitude.

God honors even the smallest obedience

 

READ Nehemiah 5-8

For seventeen years, I wrote a weekly newspaper column called “Parables.” God used that to teach me to see His truths in the news, in nature, and in both special and ordinary events. He began showing me spiritual principles in life and how to see Him at work. Some families play “I spy God” and delight in the wonder of His presence and activity, even in daily routines.

The story of Nehemiah is rich in these principles. It vividly describes rebuilding after sin had ruined lives and the challenges that spiritual enemies use to prevent success. In Chapter 5 it was oppression against one another. Some were being enslaved because of various hardships. Nehemiah boldly spoke out:

“The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations, our enemies? Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest. Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.” (Nehemiah 5:9–11)

His words rang true and the people who were doing these things stopped and promised, “We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say.” And Nehemiah called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised. (Nehemiah 5:12)

In our church culture, discipline for sin is often laid aside with the reasoning, “We are not supposed to judge” yet we need to remember that God is not like that. Hebrews 12 says He disciplines us because He loves us. Sin is a destroyer and love always wants to prevent destruction!

These chapters also tell of Nehemiah’s generosity yet enemies were continually trying to discredit him and stop the good work he was doing. He realized the purpose of their threats and prayed “O God, strengthen my hands” and asked the Lord to remember what these people were doing. He refused to retaliate, trusting God to take care of them — and so the wall was finished.

The exiles returned in great numbers and began living in their towns. Then Ezra was invited to bring the Book of the Law of Moses and read it to them. He not only read it, he “gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading” and they “lifted their hands and bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.”

They also wept when the heard the Word of God for they realized how far short they had fallen. However Nehemiah said to them: “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

And the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” The result was that “all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.” (Nehemiah 8:11–12)

They also understood how much they had missed of God’s will. He wanted them to study His Word. When they did, they found a festive celebration the Lord had commanded but they had not done. When they obeyed:

. . . . there was very great rejoicing. And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule. (Nehemiah 8:17–18)

As today’s reading says, Nehemiah honored the Lord and with God’s people rebuilt the wall in 52 days, overcoming obstacles and all of the challenges. Even their enemies recognized that God was with them. Their obedience was a wonderful expression of the Lord’s presence in the midst of His people and a testimony to Him, His people, and even to their enemies.

Read, understand, and obey equals victory and great joy! A simple formula for any Christian life and yet so easily neglected. No time? Too simple? Not enough faith? Too much of “I can do this” in our lives? Who knows. God keeps showing me the joy of simply hearing what He says, and without excuses doing what He commands. It might be to phone a friend, or clean a messy closet, or make hubby a pie, or something that seems more significant, yet in the will of God, how do I know what He will do with my five loaves and two fishes?