Category: First Things First Devotional

The Lord is good, a stronghold in a day of distress; He cares for those who take refuge in Him. Nahum 1:7 HCSB

As I write this, it is snowing outside. The white snow is blowing around and blanketing bushes, trees and yards in purity. We already have several inches of snow on the ground and it is supposed to snow all night. I am sitting by the flickering fireplace in the living room of my home where it is warm and toasty while outside it is bitterly cold. I am so thankful for a warm and comfortable home on this cold, snowy evening.

Just as I have taken refuge in my home from the stormy weather, as believers in Jesus Christ we can take refuge in God. He will protect us from the evils of our world. Because of our faith in Jesus we will be protected from His wrath against evil and sin on Judgment Day. We will be comforted and given eternal life. God is good!

Challenge: Read Psalm 46:1 and Joel 2:12-17 for a greater understanding of how God is our strength and refuge, especially during times of distress and troubles. Thank God that He is your strength and refuge. Listen to Chris Tomlin sing “Our God” on YouTube at

He rebukes the sea so that it dries up, and He makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither; even the flower of Lebanon withers. The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt; the earth trembles at His presence—the world and all who live in it. Nahum 1:4-5 HCSB

While traveling in Israel I observed land that seemed to be like a desert without much growing on it. There were other areas of the country that were watered, thus lush and green. Some land is fertile where crops can easily grow while other land is hard and difficult to cultivate.

The land of Bashan and Carmel were known to be very fertile and fruitful. This verse tells us that God controls everything and can easily cause a fertile and fruitful land to wither and dry up. Just as Jesus rebuked and calmed the stormy sea, God can cause the flowers to wither and the mountains to quake. God is all powerful and in control of everything.

Challenge: Do you tremble when you are in the presence of the Lord? Take a walk and admire God’s beautiful creation. Realize that God created and controls everything. Thank Him for providing for your needs.

The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will never leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet. Nahum 1:3 HCSB

Recently I read about a road rage murder on the interstate that caused the interstate to be shut down for hours while the police investigated. Road rage is becoming an increasing problem. It is common in today’s world to observe a driver getting upset with another driver who may be driving too slow or darting in front of another driver. Our world has become so fast-paced that we do not want anyone to get in our way or slow us down.

God is slow to anger. He is very patient and wants everyone to come to know Jesus as personal Lord and Savior. Often we want justice and implore God to punish the evil people in our world. We wonder why God allows evil and sin to continue. Even though God is patient, there will be a day when everyone will give an account of his actions. He has given each of us the freedom of choice.

Too often man chooses to go against God and His ways. This verse promises that God will not allow the guilty to go unpunished. As Christians, we must be about the mission of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since God is slow to anger, we have more time to minister to other people and share what Christ has done for them on the cross.

Challenge: Pray that God would give you patience and that you would be slow to anger. Thank Him for being patient with you and giving you time to respond to the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ.

The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is fierce in wrath. The Lord takes vengeance against His foes; He is furious with His enemies. Nahum 1:8 HCSB

We typically think of jealousy as a negative quality. We should not be jealous of other people’s possessions, position in life, or physical appearance. Too often we are jealous if someone has a better car, a bigger house, or higher paying job. At other times we may be jealous if someone has superior employment or educational opportunities, financial resources to travel, or even has the income to do acts of kindness for others. Jealousy may occur in a dating relationship when an individual deems someone else more attractive.

Our human jealousy is based on selfishness, whereas God is jealous for us and desires our complete attention and devotion. God’s jealousy is not based upon selfishness but on what is best for us. He knows that if we will serve Him and Him alone we will find happiness and fulfillment in life. God hates sin and wants us to avoid it because He knows that sin will only bring sadness, rejection, and unhappiness. God’s foes are Satan and evil. He is furious with what Satan is doing and He takes vengeance and wrath out on the sinfulness of this world.

Challenge: Thank God that He is jealous for you and desires your complete devotion to to Him. Praise Him for taking His vengeance and wrath out on the sinfulness of the world. Thank Him for providing the perfect sacrifice in Jesus Christ so you might be forgiven of your sins and have eternal life.

I also shook the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake from his house and property everyone who doesn’t keep this promise. May he be shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the Lord. Then the people did as they had promised. Nehemiah 5:13

I have several pairs of pants that have cuffs on the bottom. It is amazing that just in normal walking that the cuffs of my pants will fill up with grass and dirt. Periodically, I need to clean out the fold in the cuffs in order to continue to wear the slacks.

Nehemiah used the illustration of emptying the folds in his robe as a way to illustrate what would happen to someone who was disobedient and went against God. Just as I clean out the cuffs of my pants and throw away any debris, Nehemiah was saying that if anyone were to disobey God’s laws and not keep his promises, he would be shaken out and removed.

Challenge: Watch what you say and do. Be careful to follow God’s will. You do not have to worry about being shaken out of God’s fold if you have repented of your sins and accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Once saved, always saved is foundational, but God does desire for you to seek Him and His ways in everything you say and do.

Return their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses to them immediately, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and olive oil that you have been assessing them.” They responded: “We will return these things and require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.” So I summoned the priests and made everyone take an oath to do this. Nehemiah 5:11-12

Our church recently consolidated two loans into one loan at a much lower interest rate. As with any loan, we had to provide a great deal of documentation for the bank before they would loan us the money. At the closing appointment, I signed a promissory note on behalf of the church promising that the church would pay back the loan.

Nehemiah requested that the nobles and officials who had gotten rich from taking advantage of those who were less fortunate immediately return what they had taken. They did not argue or complain but freely promised to return the things they had taken. They were convicted that what they had been doing was wrong and they repented and decided to do what was right in the eyes of God. Nehemiah required that they take an oath in the presence of the priests.

Challenge: Ask God to bring to your mind those things you are doing that are wrong and against God’s laws. Ask for forgiveness and promise to do what is right.

Even I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop charging this interest. Nehemiah 5:10

I am currently teaching Financial Peace University, a course written by Dave Ramsey, at my church. Dave is a proponent of getting out of debt and staying out of debt. The interest one pays on a loan increases the actual cost of the item. Sometimes companies charge such a large interest rate that a person may pay twice as much for an item purchased on credit than if he paid cash for the item. Dave’s teachings are based upon Biblical principles. The Bible is clear that one should not charge interest on money that is loaned to a fellow countryman.

Nehemiah told the rich Jews to stop charging interest on their loans to their needy brothers. God does not like it when a person profits from the misfortune of others. He wants us to care for one another and help our fellow brothers and sisters. When a fellow Christian suffers, we all suffer (1 Corinthians 12:26). The Bible encourages us to help others. Proverbs 28:27 says, “Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing.”

Challenge: Make it a practice to help those who are in need. Give to the poor. Do not charge any interest if you loan a fellow brother or sister some money. Ask God to provide opportunities for you to serve as a financial blessing to someone else.

Then I said, “What you are doing isn’t right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God and not invite the reproach of our foreign enemies? Nehemiah 5:9

Our world seems to be filled with people who are self-centered and not concerned about being fair or treating others with respect but only in doing what is going to profit or benefit themselves in some way. It seems there is little real concern for those who are down on their luck and struggling to survive.

Nehemiah was angry with those who were taking advantage of the poor. He clearly told them that what they were doing was not right. Throughout God’s Word His concern for the poor and oppressed is revealed. Nehemiah insisted that the poor be treated fairly and notably, Moses before him clearly called the people to care for the poor!

Challenge: Read Exodus 22:22-27; Leviticus 25:36-37; Deuteronomy 14:28 and 29:7-11 to determine God’s way for treating the poor. Pray that God will help you do what is right and to have the same type of love and concern that God has for those who are in need.

There was a widespread outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish countrymen. Nehemiah 5:1

One age old adage declares that the rich get richer while the poor get poorer. Frequently the rich get richer by taking advantage of the poor. Typically, the poor need something that the rich have. Credit card companies serve as an example. The poor lack the money to purchase something, so they purchase it on credit. Credit card companies will often entice a purchaser by giving him a low beginning interest rate that increases over time. The purchaser is able to pay only the minimum payment which is mostly interest, and the credit card company keeps him in debt, thus taking advantage of his fragile financial situation.

This is exactly what was happening in Nehemiah’s time. Some of the Jewish people had become very wealthy and they were taking advantage of their poorer fellow countrymen. These people where having to sell their land and even relinquish their children into slavery so they could pay the interest and taxes they owed. The rich got richer by taking advantage of the situation. The people were crying out to Nehemiah because of this injustice.

Challenge: Never take advantage of others. Treat others as Christ would treat them. Pray that God would show you what you can do to help those who are poor and in need in your community.

We will bring the firstfruits of our land and of every fruit tree to the Lord’s house year by year. We will also bring the first born of our sons and our livestock, as prescribed by the law, and will bring the first born of our herds and flocks to the house of our God, to the priests who serve in our God’s house. Nehemiah 10:35-36 HCSB

Everything in this world belongs to God. As an act of obedience and reverence, God asked the people of Israel to bring the firstfruits of the land to the Lord’s house. They were to bring grains and fruits. These firstfruits were to be brought to the temple to be stored and used by the priests, Levites, and those who worked there.

Note that they were to also bring the first born of their sons and livestock. The sons were redeemed or bought back with a price. The livestock were to be used by the priests, Levites, and those who worked in the temple for food. This was a way for the people to return a portion of what God had given to them as an act of worship, but it also provided food for those who worked in the temple rather than them having to work the land or raise livestock.

Challenge: What are you bringing to the Lord? Everything you have belongs to God. Remember to bring a portion of what you have to the Lord’s house as an act of worship and obedience. God will bless you for your sacrificial offering.