Verse of the Day - Nehemiah 8:18

Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly.
~ Nehemiah 8:18 (NIV)

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This story in Nehemiah 8 is an amazing display of God-consciousness. Those who had been exiled from Jerusalem had returned, and gathered together to listen to the Word of God. And they were weeping because they understood what was being said! Weeping, my friends, for the Word of God! How many of us can say that we cry when we hear someone read the Bible, or when we are studying it for ourselves? Does God's word drive deep into our spirit and cause a stir of our soul?

I believe it can, and, dare I say, should.

What if someone got up in your church and said, "Today, for the next hour, I will read from the book of Isaiah." How many would say to themselves, An hour?! Are you kidding me? Where's the music? Where's the sermon? How 'bout a video? C'mon -- an hour? Sorry, but that'll put me to sleep....(yawn)...See what I mean?!?

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ~ Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

When your spirit latches on to God and His word, watch out, because the Bible is gonna come alive, and you will eat it up! It will cause you to weep and laugh, get on your knees and jump up with joy! Why? Because it is God's word . . . God speaking to you . . . words of absolute truth that cut through the junk of the evil one. It is light and life in a world of darkness and death.

A friend wrote me yesterday a beautiful testimony of what God's Word is becoming to him. He said, "It still amazes me that all the answers I need for a quality life have been in this book. Thank you, Jesus..." Here is someone who recognizes the significance and wonder of God's word, and it's power in His life. Yes, Thank You, Jesus...

I pray that we can revitalize our heart for God's word, and give it the attention and honor it's due. May we listen with our heart and not just our ears -- may it cut to the core of who we are and let it do the work that God knows needs to be done in us for spiritual growth and change.

Love,
Joelene