Day 25, March 21, 2007
Nehemiah 8:1-12
“I’m tired of the preaching.” “Bible study and words will give way to art and poetry.” “Preach always. When necessary, use words.”
All three statements, from diverse sources and centuries, minimize the role of reading, teaching, and studying the revealed word of God. But here’s something interesting – when the walls are completed and the people are gathered, the FIRST thing that happens is that the Word is read aloud, for hours, while all the people are standing and listening, and then it’s taught by various priests so that everyone can understand what God is saying to His people.
When this building is completed, I’m hoping that we can develop some sort of Scripture relay – whereby before we hold our first public gathering, the Bible will already have been read aloud from cover to cover in our new facility. Why? So it can become a reminder to ourselves, and a declaration to our Lord that our desire is to be a people who are guided by the divine revelation that comes to us through the Bible.
Bethany is an eclectic community, a place where we don’t all agree on every point of doctrine. But we have this luxury to dialogue and learn because we ARE agreed that there is one source to which we turn for our direction, rebuke, comfort, equipping, and training: the Bible. And so we will continue to place a high priority on explaining the revealed word – for it is this word which points us to the person of Christ, from whom we draw our life!
And finally – with the Word, and response, and dedication, comes celebration! The reading of the Word has the effect of both challenging and encouraging us at the same time. Ezra reminds the people that this is a day for receiving encouragement from the Word, celebrating God’s mercy and faithfulness, His grace and power. “Do not be grieved – for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Yes! We can, in our pursuit of God, quickly take a wrong turn down the path of condemnation, which leads to disengagement for all that is meaningful. This is wearying and ugly. How about this instead: REJOICE! Your forgiven, filled with His life, and empowered to be a temple through which His life is displayed – no matter what your outward condition.
O Living Word , I pray that you will fill us with your Holy Spirit as we read your word, that our hearts will be set on fire with understanding and revelation, so that our life and yours, our heart and yours, might be more closely bound together. Give us not only hearts to perceive your revelation, but the grace to respond. Forgive us for so easily forsaking the reading of your word. As we set our hearts towards knowing you more intimately, I pray that you will grant us a way to gain consistency in hearing from you. I pray that the leaders of your church will handle your word with diligence and accuracy, declare it with power, and live their own lives increasingly in accordance with your heart and revelation. In Your Great Name we pray, Amen
posted by Richard Dahlstrom @ 9:48 AM
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