Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule:
Nehemiah 10-13
With Nehemiah’s name heading up the list, eighty-four people put their seal on the covenant that they made with the Lord. This list included priests, Levites, and the leaders of the people. Many other citizens agreed to the covenant who didn’t “sign their names” individually, including wives and children who didn’t have the legal right to put a personal seal on an official document. All the people who had heard the Word of God read and explained were now committing themselves to obey what they had heard.
The question comes to light in passages like this. Should believers today bind themselves with oaths as they seek to walk with the Lord and serve Him? My personal opinion is… probably not. Our relationship to the Lord is that of children to a Father, and our Father wants our obedience to be based on love and gratitude. I don’t know of any examples in the New Testament of believers taking oaths of obedience to the Lord. Our obedience should be a joyful response to all that He has done for us in Christ. We don’t succeed as Christians because we make promises to God, but because we believe the promises of God and act upon them. Oaths are often based on fear (“I had better do it or God will judge me!”), and fear is not the best motivation for godly living, although it can certainly motivate. The best motivation is respect, which is a combination of gratitude and love. Honoring a person’s position demonstrates gratitude for God’s design and a willingness to submit to it. May our hearts and lives be dominated by love and gratitude as we humbly serve our loving Heavenly Father.
This is an important topic of conversation in our confused and ignorant society regarding God’s truth. One reason I am so involved in politics is, I believe, someone needs to keep truth before a society that is becoming increasingly indifferent and ignorant regarding God’s truth. I believe someone needs to be responsible and being responsible includes getting involved.
Prayer Requests:
Personal
- Lord, please help me to grow to love you more each day.
- Lord, please help me demonstrate gratitude with my attitude, actions, and the atmosphere I create.
- Lord, please help me to be an example of respect as I serve you and interact with people in life.
Political
- Senator Peter Lucido – District 8 – Shelby Twp.
- Representative James Lower – District 70 – Cedar Lake
- Senator Michael McDonald – District 10 – Clinton Twp.