Scriptural Conviction That Results In Renewal | Nehemiah 10:31

And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt. — Nehemiah 10:31

CALL OUT: To Michael Howells, one of our subscribers from Lakeville, MN. Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel. He recommended our next book of the Bible, which will be Galatians. We will start talking about that in a couple of weeks.

As I mentioned yesterday, the section from verses 30-39 lists specific changes the people agreed to make as a community with God. I have broken these down into three parts:

Marital Purity (Nehemiah 10:30).
Sabbath Renewal (Nehemiah 10:31).
Temple Priority (Nehemiah 10:32-39).
Today, we will focus on the second tenet of their rededication, their recommitment to Sabbath Renewal.

Let me explain in the simplest terms what was happening with this tenet. The people read the old rules regarding the Sabbath and Sabbatical Year, to which they had not been adhering. They were convicted about them, but their time and situation had radically changed. For example, the Sabbath in the Persian Empire was not a religious practice, which would make inactivity challenging since a lot of commerce happened on the weekend. Also, regarding Sabbatical Year practices, most did not have slaves since they were slaves, so this practice had to be tailored a bit as well.

But here is what I like about their agreement to this tenet. They understood that just because their situation had changed, caused by their sin, this did not mean God's commands were any less relevant. So, because they were so committed to this process, they attempted to find the most meaningful way to make it work instead of just opting out.

This is where some believers are tempted to make a critical compromise. Let me explain.

When we read a Scripture that convicts us and know it challenges our thinking and demands a change, we have a choice. We can either reject the Scripture and dismiss it as culturally irrelevant, or we can accept it and engage the Scripture, finding a way, some way, any way, to apply the principle to our everyday lives. The latter is what the people of Israel do here, and this is what we should do as well. Choosing to punt on Scripture and calling it irrelevant is always irreverent.

In our time, we encounter the same challenge in applying this tenet. For example, we don't practice the Sabbath exactly like ancient Israel did, but we should take a day for rest and worship dedicated to the Lord. Also, we don't have a direct equivalent to the Sabbatical Year, but there are ethical and spiritual lessons in this practice for us; for example, our faith should shape how we think about and interact with society.

This is why I do what I do right here with you daily. I work hard each day to study, interpret, and find application in the text so that you will find immediate and simple ways to apply the Scripture to your everyday life. But here's the deal—the tenets of Scripture are only effective when you actually do them. They have an effect when you read, understand, feel, and then act upon it.

So, like these people did here, let's make that agreement together. The next time you are convicted about Scripture, you will act a little quicker and find any way possible to live it out in your everyday life.

#SabbathRenewal, #Nehemiah10, #FaithInAction, #GodsCommandments, #ModernFaith, #RestAndWorship, #BiblicalPrinciples, #ChristianDiscipline, #SpiritualGrowth, #DailyDevotion

ASK THIS:

How can we apply the principle of Sabbath renewal in our contemporary lives, especially considering the challenges of modern work and technology? Reflect on ways you can integrate rest and worship into your weekly routine, honoring God amidst a busy lifestyle.
In what areas of your life might you be tempted to dismiss certain biblical teachings as culturally irrelevant, and how can you actively engage with these Scriptures instead? Discuss how the commitment of the Israelites to adapt and uphold God's commands, despite changing circumstances, can inspire us to find relevant applications of biblical principles in our daily lives.
DO THIS: Let Scripture convict you and change you.

PRAY THIS: Lord, help me to honor Your Scriptures in a way that is true to Your Word, and give me the wisdom to apply its principles in my daily life, reminding me of the importance of rest and worship in my relationship with You. Guide me in living out Your teachings faithfully, even when they challenge the norms of my surroundings, so that my actions may reflect my commitment to You. Amen.

PLAY THIS: Faithful.