The Price Of Freedom

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Saturday, May 21, 2016
Chapters: Nehemiah 5-7
Message: The Price Of Freedom

Hello My Friend,

Communism, a system of social organization in which all economic and social activity is controlled by one political leader. The idea of the government taking care of our well being sounds ideal, but when you factor in the costs of our freedom by taking their free food, money, and healthcare, it comes with a great price. Think about it, a government that decides what you get to eat, wear, live, how much money you are allowed to have, and even who gets to live or die. This is how communism starts, they entice those who are vulnerable or lazy with the idea that they are getting something free, and once they get you they own you. “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” - 2 Peter 2:18,19.

I have never been a fan of receiving things from the government, especially if they tell me it is free. There are these people that stand outside shopping centers enticing people who are on welfare already to sign up for a free government cell phone. Free, nothing is free, someone has to pay for them to receive those free phones, and it is always the hard working people who do work that do. People are so eager to take whatever they can get for free, but have no idea that it will one day cost them their freedom. History proves that there are are always consequences when a corrupt government gets control of the people’s well being. When Nehemiah came into Jerusalem he was saddened by the state of the remnants there, they not only forgot God, they foolishly accepted loans and bribes for help and now they are in dire straights, having sold everything they had to pay them back. They came to Nehemiah for help, he upbraids them for selling off their inheritance, tells them to return what they bought back to the owners, and gives a testimony on why he never received anything free from the government.

“Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor. But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God. Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work. Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us. Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.” - Nehemiah 5:14-19.

“because the bondage was heavy upon this people.” The previous governors instilled such harsh penalties on the people that they were in bondage to them. Nothing Is Free! Freedom is not free, everything we have that is given to us was already bought by someone else. Sadly, we are in a society that people do not care about the well being of others, only themselves, what they can get without having to work, they will sell themselves out before doing a little hard work to get the things they need. God will take care of His people, but He will not take care of those who forsake Him. If they forsake Him for the things of the world, they have only themselves to blame for the consequences.

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” - Romans 1:28-32.

A corrupt government is great at trying to entice people to trust them for their well being so they can take control, but what do they do to those who seek their own provisions? They taunt and bribe them in an attempt to stop them from being independent from them. As Nehemiah and the people continued building the wall around Jerusalem they got all sorts of opposition from the government to try and stop them. First, they wanted to help, when that did not work they resorted to distractions, and when that did not work, lying.

“Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner. Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words. Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart. For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.” - Nehemiah 6:1-6,8,9.

“There are no such things done as thou sayest,” Sanballat sent false prophets to try and get Nehemiah to stop, but he knew it was a lie. No matter who we are, corrupt leaders are always trying to entice us to stop doing what is right and follow them. God will never tell us to do something that goes against Scripture. That awesome job that includes wearing provocative clothes is not so awesome when it resorts in uncontrollable people that have no respect for others bodies. That awesome payout for gambling is not so awesome when it resorts in uncontrollable debt. That awesome one night stand is not so awesome when it resorts in unwanted pregnancy or an incurable disease. Corrupt leadership comes from a corrupt world electing them, the world likes to make us think that they have our best interests in mind, and that God even plays a part in it, but it is all lies. “For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.” - Luke 9:25-27.

Now that the walls surrounding Jerusalem were repaired, there was still much work to be done. The city was huge, but very few people lived in it because it needed much repair. Through God’s directions, Nehemiah came up with a plan to rebuild the city with fellow Jews. Armed guards stood at the only entrance into the city, the gates were open during the day, but once they were closed no one was allowed to go through unless their names were found written in the register book. The register book was the Israelites only documentation that they were true Israelites that came from Babylon, anyone not found written in the book was denied entrance.

“Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded. And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein, These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city; The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women.” - Nehemiah 7:4-6,66,67.

“that they might be reckoned by genealogy.” Genealogy is more than just the family we came from through birth to God, it is those who are His. The same way in which a person can enter the gate in Jerusalem, is the same way a person can enter the Kingdom of God, and become part of His family. Our names must be written in the register, and that register is named the Book of life. Anyone’s name not written in the Book of life will be denied entry and cast into hell, and the lake of fire. “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” - Revelation 20:12-15.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today, Jesus is revealed through Nehemiah, who would not stop the will of God. Jesus, came here to do the will of His Father, and let nothing stop Him from going to the cross so we can be free. “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” - Luke 22:42b.

Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for setting those free from the bondage of their sin who are trusting in Your Son, who paid the price of His life on the cross to save us. I understand that there are some things that You allow me to go through so that I can learn from my mistakes and be an example to others, but I truly want to live my life the way You want me to. Lord, keep my eyes, ears, and heart on You, and help me to let go of hindrances that keep me from completing the work You have given me to do. Help me to be aware of the dangers and to listen for the truths You tell me. Let me be discerning, kind to others, yet not follow their understanding, but Yours. I ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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