RPG Adults
ELEMENTS OF CONGREGATIONAL SERVICE (XXIV)
LORD’S DAY, MARCH 29
Nehemiah 13:15-31
1 Timothy 6:11-16
“Fight the good fight of faith,
lay hold on eternal life.
ELEMENTS OF CONGREGATIONAL SERVICE (XXIV)
Reformation does not only require vigilance and resoluteness. It also needs comprehensiveness. Reformation can never be accomplished selectively because any area compromised will affect the whole. As Nehemiah addressed the issues at Jerusalem, he had to handle different aspects which, from a casual and outward look, seemed unrelated. We cannot afford to neglect any area of life and still expect to maintain a biblical and godly stance. History clearly shows that all straying and apostasy begin, not by a total rejection of everything godly and biblical, but rather, by a selective approach to a biblical stand.
In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives (Neh 13:23). Again, even in this matter, it is clear that there was a departure from a previously accepted position. In Nehemiah 10, the resolve of the people at the covenant renewal was that “we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons” (Neh 10:30). How is it that they moved from such firm resolve to thus, that “wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab, And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language” (Neh 13:23-24)? This is a testimony to the need for vigilance, resoluteness and comprehensiveness if standards are to be maintained. The neglect of one area eventually erodes all. Their departure was seemingly not visible to them. Nehemiah in contending with them “made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves” (Neh 13:25). This was according to their previous resolve. He also reminded them from their scriptural history of the effect mixed marriages had on Solomon, king of Israel (Neh 13:26). Yet the same evil had happened among them with the high priest’s grandson marrying Sanballat’s daughter (Neh 13:28). Nehemiah insisted on separation. He made a public example of the high priest’s grandson. This was what Paul would later exhort Timothy to do in 1 Timothy 5:19-20. When Nehemiah said, “I chased him from me” (Neh 13:28), he actually did “rebuke before all, that others also may fear” (1 Tim 5:20), and through this, he cleansed “them from all strangers” (Neh 13:30).
THOUGHT: Compromise leads me to substitute God’s will with mine.
PRAYER: Father, help me to understand my duty, and be faithful.