Choosing Jesus

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Monday, May 23, 2016
Chapters: Nehemiah 11-13
Message: Choosing Jesus

Hello My Friend,

Choosing Jesus is not something that we automatically do, oh, He nudges us along the path we choose, but it is not something that comes naturally to us. That is why choosing Jesus is a big deal to God, it means we finally realize that we cannot do all this on our own. Even though we choose Jesus it can be easy to get sidetracked when the pressures of life come knocking at our door, sadly, it is during difficulties when most lose sight of God. When we get to that point we must step back and seek our own personal spiritual revival. It's amazing what praising can do in the midst of the most difficult circumstances. “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:5-7.

When Nehemiah left Babylon he was determined to bring the presence of God back to it he was succeeding pretty well. Ezra and his crew were successful at restoring the temple, Nehemiah and his crew were successful at repairing the walls that would keep the world out. For the first time in nearly a hundred years the Law of God had been read, the passover was observed, and thousands of people willingly promised to serve God. However, very few actually lived within the walls of Jerusalem, most of them lived in the suburbs where they could make a living more easily. Because of this, there was not enough people living in Jerusalem to maintain and protect it. An account is given of those who willingly offered to stay in Jerusalem.

“And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities. And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants. The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of God. For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day. And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people.” - Nehemiah 11:1-3,22-24.

“was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people.” You know, God may be up there on His throne, but every matter in His hand, there is not one thing that goes on that He does not know about. When we choose Jesus, we are His business, that means we choose to stay within His walls. God will not stop us from going out into the world, but the walls that He puts around us are not meant to keep us out of the world, they are meant to keep the world from coming into us. No matter where we go, a job, school, church, a restaurant, we represent Him, that means people ought to see Him in us. God does not force Himself upon us, we must willingly come to Him, and willingly choosing Him includes being willing to remain within His walls to keep from being enticed by them. “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” - John 17:14-16.

Nehemiah went to the people and encouraged them to return to God, it was a revival, the Levites and those of Judah and Benjamin returned to God with great joy and began to rebuild the city. “Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off. And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited. And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son. For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God. And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron.” - Nehemiah 12:43-47.

“so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.” Life gets difficult, and to be honest, choosing to live a life that has Jesus in it can bring even more difficulties because we are no longer part of the world. Choosing Jesus may not be popular, but we can have a pretty good life here, despite the difficulties. God does not place us in the world to be of the world, but that His Son might be seen through us and bring others to Him. And let me tell you, if the world does not see Him in you, perhaps it is time to rethink your priorities. Christians today have lost their zeal for Jesus, they are more concerned about what the world thinks of them instead of proclaiming Christ. It is time to stop hiding Jesus, get excited about Him, let our joy of Him be heard beyond our comfort zone. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.” - John 15:18-21.

After being in Jerusalem for about twelve years Nehemiah said it was time to return home to Babylon, after all the temple was in order and everyone was serving God faithfully. He went home and sadly it did not take long before they began neglecting their duties, including the spiritual leaders and temple workers. When Nehemiah arrived he was stricken with grief, how could such a small town get so out of touch with God so fast. Nehemiah quickly gathered everyone together, began upbraiding them and reminding them why they were to separate themselves from among them in the first place.

“And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy. In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people. And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin. Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?” - Nehemiah 13:22-27.

“Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things?” Do you think that everything that the people of God did was something that He approved of? No. We are all the same, sinners saved by His grace. God used men and women that were no different than us, none of them were prefect, which is why He chose to put these people in His book. Every person, Adam, Moses, David, Mary, John the Baptist, Paul, name any key figure in His Word, none of them were without sin (except Jesus), but by the grace of God, He used them all to be examples and testimonies of how loving, merciful, and gracious He is to those who willingly choose Him. We are not perfect, we do have to try to be because we have the perfect one in us, but we are examples and testimonies of a life that was led by Jesus. Or we can be examples and testimonies of a life that pretended to know or rejected Him, but we have no one to blame, but ourselves for the consequences of the choices we make outside of Jesus.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” - Romans 12:1-3.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today, Jesus is revealed through Nehemiah who upbraided the people who were selling and working on the Sabbath. Jesus overturned the tables and upbraided the people who were selling in the temple “And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” - Matthew 21:12,13.

Today's Prayer: God, I have spent time trying to live the way I wanted to live, and while I did have some success, it didn't last, and it always proved to be a sinking ship. I do not want to walk through the wide gate anymore, it only brings pain and suffering, I want to walk travel the narrow path, the one led by Your Son, who took my place on the cross for the sins I deserved. Lord, lead me and guide me, give me Your power to stay on the narrow path, give me the strength to separate myself from the world and let me not be tempted by it's visage of evil. Keep me in Your Word and walking with You daily so I do not fall off the narrow path. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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