讀經: 尼希米記一章4至11節 4我聽見這話,就坐下哭泣,悲哀幾日,在天上的神面前禁食祈禱,說: 5耶和華─天上的神,大而可畏的神啊,你向愛你、守你誡命的人守約施慈愛。 6願你睜眼看,側耳聽,你僕人晝夜在你面前為你眾僕人以色列民的祈禱,承認我們以色列人向你所犯的罪;我與我父家都有罪了。 7我們向你所行的甚是邪惡,沒有遵守你藉著僕人摩西所吩咐的誡命、律例、典章。 8求你記念所吩咐你僕人摩西的話,說:你們若犯罪,我就把你們分散在萬民中; 9但你們若歸向我,謹守遵行我的誡命,你們被趕散的人雖在天涯,我也必從那裡將他們招聚回來,帶到我所選擇立為我名的居所。 10這都是你的僕人、你的百姓,就是你用大力和大能的手所救贖的。 11主啊,求你側耳聽你僕人的祈禱,和喜愛敬畏你名眾僕人的祈禱,使你僕人現今亨通,在王面前蒙恩。我是作王酒政的。 |
Bible Reading: Nehemiah 1:4-11 4 So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 And I said: "I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments, 6 please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father's house and I have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. 8 Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; 9 but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.' 10 Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand. 11 O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." |
What did Nehemiah do when he heard the news about the walls of Jerusalem? He could have said, 'Why doesn't somebody do something about it?' Or 'What's that got to do with me?' What did he do? He had a very responsible position in the king's palace. He I was the most trusted servant and the closest to the king. He could easily influence decisions by the king if he wanted to in favour of those who wanted him to do so. So why leave? But Nehemiah was deeply moved by what he had heard. r However, he didn't rush immediately to the king and say, 'I am leaving right now'. He took time for prayer, for guidance, before he spoke to the king. Nehemiah's tears led him to pray that something might be done about the situation. If God wanted him to be part ot the project, then God would open the way for him to do so. The rest of the book of Nehemiah is the story of how God answered that prayer. He faced many obstacles, but God carried him through them all. It is a thrilling story especially for Christian leaders today. Is this only a history lesson? No, think about it. Are there walls in your life that have been broken down and need to be rebuilt? Remember our enemy, Satan, is a master at finding openings through which he can attack our lives. Has God the Holy Spirit been saying to you, 'There is something I want to rebuild in your life'? What are you doing about it? It could be the wall of prayer that has been broken down. It could be the wall of separation from the world that you have allowed to crumble piece by piece. Maybe you are saying, 'I like things the way they are. I am not sure that I want to change.' Why not ask the Holy Spirit to do his own work in your heart beginning today. Let him help you rebuild those walls that are broken down? He is waiting. Are you willing? A VERSE FOR TODAY: 'O Lord, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.' |
沒有留言:
張貼留言