Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Nehemiah 9-10

Highlight Verse:

“On October 31 the people assembled again, and this time they fasted and dressed in burlap and sprinkled dust on their heads.”
‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

It almost sounds like people dressed up for Halloween even back then?.

But, of course, this was something far more serious.

They stood there for three hours listening to the Law of God and then spent another three hours repenting and worshipping.

They were serious about getting right with God.

I can’t say that I ever put on burlap in repentance.

But when I first gave my life to Jesus, I spent a lot of time considering it.

In reality, I was saved from the first moment I believed.

But I drew it out another couple of days.

I wanted to have time to consider the implications and then I wanted the prayer to be just right so God would see how serious about it.

Did I have to do all that to be saved from my sin?

Of course not.

Did it give me a more solid start to my walk of faith?

I believe so.

I have been a part of seeker sensitive churches before.

They make it very easy to find Jesus.

That’s good.

But sometimes we need to take a deeper look at the seriousness of sin and repentance.

That said, I would compare the scene in today’s passage to a modern-day revival; especially the kind that genuinely arise spontaneously and go on on for days.

In such times, the Holy Spirit does a major job of cleaning hearts.

Such an encounter gives believers a touchstone to look back on and remember the importance of their faith.

I don’t think we should manufacture fake spontaneity, but we should be open to the Holy Spirit when He wants to move in us and those around us.

What can you look back on to remind you of the importance of your faith?
Have you been to a genuine, spontaneous revival? How did it affect you?