Throw the Book At Them!

Daily Reading:  Nehemiah 8

And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. (Nehemiah 8.1)

Devotional Thought: When Nehemiah and the people finished their building project over 2500 years ago, it was time to occupy the city.  What they did to celebrate is a picture of weekly Christian worship...

• Gather.  Some say, "I worship when I'm alone in the woods. I really feel close to God then."  That is a good and necessary part of Christian formation.  To be alone with God and revel in his creation stirs the soul and helps us know him.  But if that's all there is, it smacks of pantheism.  We must gather as the people of God in our common faith and allegiance to Christ.  The Bible tells us not to forsake assembling together.

• Unite. Proximity is important but unity is indispensable.  They "gathered as one."  We too, set aside our differences to gather in the common bond of Christ.  Worship is not only personal.  It has a public and unifying dimension.   That's why I do not accept the concept of "a church for people who don't like church."  That smacks of heresy!

• Read.  "The Book of the Law of Moses" was central to their worship.  They wanted to know what "the Lord had commanded Israel."  Christian worship, shaped by the Word of God, shapes the people of God.

• Rejoice.  The people wept over their sins, but Ezra told them to "not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength" (v. 10).  Christian worship is joyful, for we celebrate the grace of God through Jesus Christ!

• Go.  Having gathered, united, read, and rejoiced, "the people went their way" (v. 12).  Jesus sends us on our way to spread the good tidings of his love!  The Church doesn't stay in church, but goes to be the Church in the world.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the consistency of your Word, which time and again gives us pictures of how we are to know and worship you.  Help us to be faithful to your Word as we gather, unite, read, rejoice, and go.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 107:10-16

10 Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains,

11 because they rebelled against God’s commands and despised the plans of the Most High.

12 So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help.

13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.

14 He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains.

15 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind,

16 for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.