Category: First Things First Devotional

So I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned down. Come, let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall so that we will no longer be a disgrace.” Nehemiah 2:17 HCSB

God allowed me to serve at a church where we had grown to the point that we needed to relocate. We had already transitioned to four worship services on Sunday morning and were parking cars every place we could find, including the front lawn of the church. It was exciting to be a part of the process of selling the current property, enlisting an architect and building firm, building the building, and then moving to our new location. It was a lot of hard work, but it was well worth it. Today the church still stands as a vivid testimony of God’s work among His people.

Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Babylonian army. Years later when the walls that protected the city still lay in ruins, Nehemiah had a dream and a plan to rebuild the walls and secure the city. A city without any walls was vulnerable to attacks and was considered to be an unsafe place to live. It took someone like Nehemiah to motivate and rally the people behind the cause of rebuilding the walls. He not only had the administrative skills to organize the people, he had connections to people who could help, and he knew how to delegate and motivate people to get the job done. Last but not least, Nehemiah had God on his side to help accomplish the task of rebuilding.

Challenge: Has God called you to be a leader to motivate others to accomplish His plan or has He called you to be a hard worker and follow the leadership of others to help get a job done? Do your part and embrace whatever task God has given you the opportunity to do to further His Kingdom.

I also said to the king: “If it pleases the king, let me have letters written to the governors of the region west of the Euphrates River, so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah. And let me have a letter written to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to rebuild the gates of the temple’s fortress, the city wall, and the home where I will live.” The king granted my requests, for I was graciously strengthened by my God. Nehemiah 2:7-8 HCSB

I pushed on the brake pedal and all I heard was a grinding noise. That meant that my brakes needed to be replaced. There is a minister with whom I work that is a gifted mechanic so I asked if he could help me replace the brakes. A few days later I was at his house replacing the brakes on my truck. We had a good time working together and I saved some money by doing it myself.

Just as I went to someone who could help me, Nehemiah went to the person who could help him. He was not afraid to ask the king for letters to give them safe travel but also to secure wood to help rebuild the walls and even to build a home for himself. Some would think that Nehemiah was a bit presumptuous asking the king for additional help. Sometimes when we have a need, we hesitate to ask for help. Either our pride keeps us from asking or we are afraid of the response we may receive. Nehemiah was not afraid to ask for help, and he sought the person who had the resources and power to actually assist him. God used the king to answer Nehemiah’s prayer.

Challenge: Do not be reluctant to ask for help from those who have the ability to help. This may be God’s way of using and blessing them so that He can bring a blessing to you. God often uses others to answer the prayers of His children.

Then the king asked me, “What is your request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah and to the city where my ancestors are buried, so that I may rebuild it.” Nehemiah 2:4-5 HCSB

Max Lucado is one of my favorite authors whom I had the privilege to meet at a conference several years ago. I enjoy the way he writes with such descriptive words. His latest book entitled “Before Amen,” explores the purpose and meaning behind prayer. Prayer does not have to be fancy with words that are difficult to pronounce. The point of the book is to remind readers that we all should always be a state of prayer, talking with the Lord, sharing our thoughts and concerns. Prayer should be as natural in our lives as breathing and talking. We should talk to God just like we would if we called an old friend just to talk. God is interested in everything we say and do.

When Nehemiah was faced with the opportunity to present his request before the king, he wanted to make sure he said the right thing. He spontaneously prayed to God while carrying on a conversation. Over the years of praying, he had developed an intimate relationship with God and he had a strong sense of being one of God’s children and friend. It was just natural for Nehemiah to pray to God. He did not say to the king, “I will get back with you.” His response was immediate but he wanted to make sure God was a part of every decision he made. Nehemiah sought wisdom and guidance as he responded to the king. Eight times in the book of Nehemiah we find that Nehemiah spontaneously prayed and sought God’s direction. I have sometime heard spontaneous prayers described as being “arrow prayers” that are quickly shot to heaven when we discover there is a need.

Challenge: Do you have a close relationship with God? Do you feel you can easily take everything to God in prayer? He wants you to freely and spontaneously bring your requests before His Holy throne. Spend time cultivating a close relationship with God so your prayers can be more effective. Consider reading Max Lucado’s book “Before Amen”. Visit Max Lucado’s website to learn more about Before Amen at https://maxlucado.com/audio/daily-audio/before-amen-challenge/ Listen to Alan Jackson sing, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X35JDIdQF5A

During the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, so the king said to me, “Why are you sad, when you aren’t sick? This is nothing but depression.” I was overwhelmed with fear and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” Nehemiah 2:1-3 HCSB

Healthline reports that depression is a condition that affects 1 of 10 Americans. Eighty percent of people with symptoms of clinical depression are not receiving any treatment for their condition. The number of people diagnosed with depression increases by 20 % each year. Depression is most prevalent in people who are ages 45-64. Overall, women have higher rates of depression than men. An estimated 121 million people around the world suffer from some form of depression.

Nehemiah was in a state of depression because the city of his ancestors lay in ruins. Three months had passed since Nehemiah had heard about the condition of the city of Jerusalem. When the king noticed that Nehemiah was sad and depressed, it caused Nehemiah to be fearful because it was dangerous to show sorrow before the king, who could execute anyone at any time without a reason. Nehemiah was fearful, but it did not deter him from doing what God had called him to do. When we allow fear to rule our behavior, we are saying that our fear is greater than God. In truth, God is greater than all of our fears.

Challenge: Is there a task God wants you to do but fear is holding you back? Do not allow fear to control you. Trust God to help you when you begin to experience fear. Realize that if God has called you to a task, He will provide the resources you need to accomplish it. Pray for strength to recognize and defeat any fears or depression you may have.

Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel. Ezra 7:10 HCSB

I have committed my life to studying and teaching God’s Word and helping Sunday School teachers more effectively study and teach their class members each week. It is a humbling responsibility to teach God’s Word. James 3:1 says, “Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment.” God expects more of those who are teachers.

Ezra was a student of God’s Word and desired to teach its statutes and ordinances to others so they also could know and follow God’s will. It is admirable that he studied, obeyed, and taught God’s Word. Whether we are a teacher or not, all believers should desire to do the same thing – to study, obey, and teach God’s Word. God desires to speak to all of His children through His Holy Word, the Bible.

Challenge: Determine in your heart that you are going to spend time reading God’ Word each day, studying it and hiding its precepts in your heart. God’s gracious hand will be upon you as you seek to do His will in your life. If you are not a teacher and feel that God has given you the spiritual gift of teaching, consider teaching a Sunday School class. You will receive a great blessing as you study and teach His Word each week.

He began the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month and arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month since the gracious hand of his God was on him. Ezra 7:9 HCSB

God has richly blessed me with a wonderful, loving, and supportive wife, four great children who love the Lord, two fantastic sons-in-law, a godly daughter-in-law, and two beautiful grandchildren. I have also been blessed to serve at mission-minded churches, the Missouri Baptist Convention, and Lifeway Christian Resources. There have been opportunities for me to teach Sunday School Leadership conferences in many states and to participate in mission trips around the world. God has been very good to me. It feels as though the gracious hand of God has been upon me.

God used Ezra to lead approximately 40,000 people cross country on foot to a new home. Just imagine the number of people including men, women, and children, not to mention the number of animals that accompanied them. Each day they traveled, prepared food, and set up tents for lodging at night. The gracious hand of God was upon him and protected the people as they traveled. Ezra and the Israelites made the trip safely to Jerusalem in only four months without any military escort.

Challenge: Pray for the gracious hand of God to be upon you. Ask for His blessings as you seek to serve Him and follow His perfect plan for your life.

Some of the Israelites, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants accompanied him to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. Ezra 7:7 HCSB

I had the privilege of studying in Europe my senior year in college with a group that spent five weeks touring many different sites from London, England to Rome, Italy, to Paris, France. It was a once-in-a-lifetime trip that I will never forget. But after being gone for five weeks, I was ready to go home and eat some American food.

It had been eighty years since the first group of Israelites had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon. It is estimated that Ezra organized approximately 40,000 people to travel for four months by foot from Babylon to Jerusalem. He went to King Artaxerxes and asked permission to return to his homeland and to take some others with him. The king not only granted his request, but he also sent money, supplies, and items to be used in the temple. Additionally, the king made a decree which could be used like a passport to give the Israelites safe passage back to Jerusalem. Evidently Ezra had access to the king and probably held an important position. He was willing to leave his position in order to lead a group of people to his homeland and to teach them God’s laws. He was ready to go home.

Challenge: Would you be willing to give up your position in order to follow God’s will for your life? Tell God that you want to follow His plan for your life no matter what the cost. Watch how God will use you when you completely surrender your life to Him and His ministry.

He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he requested because the hand of Yahweh his God was on him. Ezra 7:6 HCSB

I was fortunate to attend The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where I received the Master of Religious Education degree which helped prepare me for a lifetime of ministry, teaching, and educating others in Biblical truths. Even though I took classes in Old Testament, New Testament, history, and theology, I wish I was more skilled and knew my Bible better than I do.

Ezra was a scribe, which meant he spent much of his time recording events and transcribing copies of the ancient laws of the Hebrews attributed to Moses, usually the first five books of the Old Testament. As a scribe, Ezra would have been a student of the law and would have had a good understanding of all that God wanted from His people.

Challenge: Be a student of God’s Word. No matter how much you have read and studied your Bible, there are always new insights and principles you can learn. Ask God to reveal His purpose and direction for your life through His Word as you read and study it.

After these events, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra – Seraih’s son, Azariah’s son, Hilkiah’s son, Shallum’s son, Zodok’s son, Ahitub’s son, Amariah’s son, Azariah’s son, Meraioth’s son, Zerahiah’s son, Uzzi’s son, Bukki’s son, Abishua’s son, Phinehas’s son, Eleazar’s son, Aaron the chief of priest’s son – came up from Babylon. Ezra 7:1-3 HCSB

My son, Nathan, is very interested in his family tree and has spent many hours studying and researching to discover facts about our past family members. He even had my mother and my father-in-law do a DNA test to determine their ethnicity. My maternal ancestors more than likely originated from Western Europe. It is interesting to discover certain facts about particular family members.

In these verses we discover Ezra’s family tree. It was common for people to document and record their family history. These verses were to show that Ezra was not only a Levite, but he was a direct descendant of Aaron, the chief priest’s son. This proved that he had the right and authority to be a priest in the temple and lead the second group of Israelites back to Jerusalem. Ezra was probably a prominent man in the community and was selected by King Artaxerxes to lead the Israelites back to their homeland.

Challenge: Look into your family’s history to discover if you have had any ministers or prominent people in your family in previous years. Praise God that you are an adopted child in His kingdom and that you have all the rights and privileges of a child of God.

The exiles observed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. All of the priests and Levites were ceremonially clean, because they had purified themselves. They killed the Passover lamb for themselves, their priestly brothers, and all the exiles. Ezra 6:19-20 HCSB

I have had the privilege of participating in a Passover meal. The Jewish people still celebrate the Passover each year. Passover means “to spare”. The Passover commemorates the exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The last plague that God brought upon the Egyptians was the death of every first born son of humans and the animals. The Israelites were instructed to kill a lamb and place the blood over the door and on the sides of the door. When the “death angel” came and saw the blood, he “passed over” the house and did not bring death to that household. The Passover is a special meal that the family celebrates each year to remember the slavery in Egypt and how God provided a way for them to escape and go to the Promised Land.

Paul referred to Christ as “our Passover who has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7 and 1 Peter 1:19). John the Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29). Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood so our sins might be forgiven and we can be released from the slavery of sin. As believers, through Christ’s blood we have power over death and will someday defeat death and live eternally with God in heaven.

Challenge: Praise God for the wonderful gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, who willingly died on the cross so we might have forgiveness of our sins and receive eternal life. Thank Him for being your Passover lamb and dying in your place. Listen to the song, “Bold the Lamb” on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAyHhFjx4PM