My Daily Pause

As the rebuilding of the wall is completed, Jerusalem is in a good mood. Their exile was over, their wall stood in full protection and the priesthood was functional. They began their service to God right away.

God has a way of blessing those who are thankful and focus their “day to day” around him first – worship isn’t just for Sunday. Philippians 4:6 says to ask for what we need but to do it with thankfulness for what we already have. From the beginning, God has expected us to credit him and depend on him – and in return, he takes care of the rest.

Paul was addressing a little problem of “preacher-itis” in 1 Corinthians 1 and again in 1 Corinthians 3. It still happens to some extent today – people following a preacher to the extent that they would leave a congregation to follow him to his next duty. Worse, some congregations have split over a preacher leaving.

Paul puts that idea in its place in 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 with a seed sower metaphor and again with a foundation metaphor in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. Ministers, which includes all Christians, are sowers and waterers. God gives the increase and reaps the harvest. We will answer in like kind for our labor (1 Corinthians 3:8)

There are a few excuses for missing church that keep getting recycled.

Today I have an answer for them.

1. Because no one invited you . . . People go to a lot of places uninvited, and even pay to get in. (Consider this your invitation!)
2. Because of hypocrites . . . We associate with them in the world every day
3. Because of company . . . Bring them along; they will admire you.
4. Because you have little children . . . Jesus says, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me” (Matthew 19:14).
5. Because you have plenty of time in the future . . . . . . Are you sure? (James 4:13-17).

See you in church today!

Paul told the church to avoid those that cause divisions. (Romans 16:17)

Logically speaking, those that would do things to divide the church have only their own interest in mind. The Lord was interested in unity. (John 17:21) Paul made it very clear in several places in the New Testament. If your church doesn’t look like the church the Apostles worshipped in, it’s probably the result of a division somewhere along the line.

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:4-6).

It is a shame how easy that Satan can get into the middle of the Lord’s work. Nehemiah faced rumors, backbiting and inside jobs but still managed to get the wall repaired around Jerusalem. The people knew he had the help of his God.

How can we be like Nehemiah?

1. We do whatever it takes to get the Lord’s work done.
2. We keep going even when the work gets difficult.

We’ll be stronger in the end.