Daily Devotions
God's Word Is for Transformation, Not Just Information
Reading for May 23rd: Nehemiah 8-10
On the second day the heads of the fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. And they found it written in the Law that the LORD had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month...
Nehemiah 8:13-14
The spirit of restoration was alive in Israel. The people showed great respect for the Law. Men, women, and anyone else who could understand came to hear the Law read. They showed great reverence and respect. They stood up, they bowed down on their faces, and raised their hands in worship. They even wept as the Law was read.
But what happened after this is what showed their commitment to restoration. The leaders knew that merely hearing the Law was not enough, and so on the second day they came to Ezra to carefully study the law to see what they needed to do.
Is this the way we read Scripture? Do we approach it with a mind to actually do what it says?
As teachers of God's Word, we must make proper application for our audiences. When we sit down with our family to read the Bible or teach a class at church or preach a sermon, there should always be discussion about application. The audience should never leave our devotion, class, or sermon thinking, "So what?"
The Bible is not merely about information but transformation. God is seeking to renew and restore our lives. As leaders of God's people, restoration should always be the end goal.
Father, open up our eyes, our minds, and our hearts to your Word so that we might be restored to what you would have us to be.
