Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Nehemiah chapter 7.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah+7&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“5 Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogies.  Then I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up first in which I found the following record:

6 These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his city, 7 who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah.

The number of men of the people of Israel:  8 the sons of Parosh, 2,172;  9 the sons of Shephatiah, 372;  10 the sons of Arah, 652;”  Nehemiah Chapter 7:  Verses 5-10.

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Most of today’s chapter is very similar in format to verses 8-10 naming certain men of Israel and the number of their sons who returned to Jerusalem from captivity.  It is appropriate to meditate on why so much of Scripture would be devoted to such detail as we see in verses 8-10 above with a prayer that God will also put it in our heart to understand the importance of today’s Scripture as God put it into the heart of Nehemiah to assemble the nobles, the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogies.

Simply put, sons (and daughters) are important to God.

Other doctrine is individual-orientated.  Other doctrine isolates individuals out of the family.

But, Reformed Doctrine is family-orientated and recognizes the promises to families through Scripture.  Reformed Doctrine embraces families.  

Reformed Doctrine emphasizes covenant theology wherein God establishes His covenant of grace with only His elect “in the line of continued generations”.  In my words, God does not only and randomly elect certain individuals for salvation, but God also elects some of their sons and daughters for salvation.  Here is is a quote from “Lesson 18:  Covenant of Grace” in ESSENTIALS OF REFORMED DOCTRINE – A Guide in Catechetical Instruction by Rev. H. Hoeksema (revised by Prof. H. Hanko):

6.  How does God establish His covenant?
God establishes His covenant by His own work of grace whereby He takes His people into His own covenant fellowship.  Ephesians 2:8 .

7.  Does God establish His covenant with all men?
No, He establishes His covenant only with His elect people in the line of continued generations.  Galatians 3:16, 29 .  (Emphasis added by Bill).

“I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.”  Genesis 17:7.

“For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”  Acts 2:39.  But, also note the qualifier “as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself”.  Not necessarily all children will be saved;  only as many children as the Lord will elect.

“3 Behold, children are a gift of the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
5 How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
They will not be ashamed
When they speak with their enemies in the gate.”  Psalm 127:3-5.

“All your sons will be taught of the Lord;
And the well-being of your sons will be great.”  Isaiah 54:13.

“… Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”  Acts 16:31. 

“4 “Since you are precious in My sight,
Since you are honored and I love you,
I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.
5 “Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
And gather you from the west.
6 “I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring My sons from afar
And My daughters from the ends of the earth,
7 Everyone who is called by My name,
And whom I have created for My glory,
Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”  Isaiah 43:4-7.

Why does this aspect of Reformed Doctrine cause us to do?

We believe and act upon the truth that God saves our children.  We follow Noah’s example for the salvation of our household.

“By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”  Hebrews 11:7.

We baptize our infants.  We put them in Christian schools at great sacrifice.  We bring them to church.  We pray for them continually.  We send them daily devotions.  We do other things for our children, trusting God that He saves households.

Today’s devotion comes from Nehemiah chapter 6.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah+6&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“9 For all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking, “They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.”  But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

…

15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.  16 When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence;  for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.”  Nehemiah Chapter 6:  Verses 9 and 15-16.

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There is much work to do in 2016.  And, we face enemies who will try to frighten us.  And, there will be other unexpected troubles. 

“But now, O God, strengthen my hands.”  Verse 9. 

We read in today’s Scripture “they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.”  Verse 16.

Despite our own enemies and our own other troubles, we should also recognize that the Lord will also accomplish what concerns us.

“7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me.
8 The Lord will accomplish what concerns me;
Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.”  Psalm 138:7-8.

“7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart exults,
And with my song I shall thank Him.
8 The Lord is their strength,
And He is a saving defense to His anointed.
9 Save Your people and bless Your inheritance;
Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever.”  Psalm 28:7-9.

Today’s devotion comes Nehemiah chapter 5.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah+5&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“14 Moreover, from the day that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, for twelve years, neither I nor my kinsmen have eaten the governor’s food allowance.  15 But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people and took from them bread and wine besides forty shekels of silver;  even their servants domineered the people.  But I did not do so because of the fear of God.  16 I also applied myself to the work on this wall;  we did not buy any land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work.  17 Moreover, there were at my table one hundred and fifty Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us.  18 Now that which was prepared for each day was one ox and six choice sheep, also birds were prepared for me;  and once in ten days all sorts of wine were furnished in abundance.  Yet for all this I did not demand the governor’s food allowance, because the servitude was heavy on this people.  19 Remember me, O my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.”  Nehemiah 5:14-19.

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Unlike the previous governors, Nehemiah did not take personal advantage of his position as governor to tax or otherwise lay financial burdens on the people for his benefit alone (or, at least, he did not demand as much as was allowed for a governor to receive).  Nehemiah trusted God to reward him, and he said:  “Remember me, O my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.”  Verse 19.

We also remember the apostle Paul:  “and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone;  for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so.”  2 Corinthians 11:9.

The lesson that we learn from today’s Scripture is that there are those things that we can do and should do for others in this upcoming new year of 2016 for which we should not charge them. 

But, God Himself will reward us instead.

“May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”  Ruth 2:12.

“He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward;  and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.  And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”  Matthew 10:41-42.

Today’s devotion comes from Nehemiah chapter 4.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah+4&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now it came about that when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews.  2 He spoke in the presence of his brothers and the wealthy men of Samaria and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing?  Are they going to restore it for themselves?  Can they offer sacrifices?  Can they finish in a day?  Can they revive the stones from the dusty rubble even the burned ones?” 3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him and he said, “Even what they are building—if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down!”

4 Hear, O our God, how we are despised!  Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity.  5 Do not forgive their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out before You, for they have demoralized the builders.”  Nehemiah 4:1-5.

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“Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.  Selah.”  Psalm 52:8.

There are times in our lives when we are so distressed that we do not care how we look or how we sound;  we just pour out our hearts to God.

Hannah is one example.  “Then Eli said to her, “How long will you make yourself drunk?  Put away your wine from you.”  But Hannah replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit;  I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord.”  1 Samuel 1:14-15.

Other doctrine just tells us to calm down.

But, Reformed Doctrine tells us to pour out our heart before God.

God understands very well that we are frail.  God understands very well that we are sinners through our “Total Depravity” nature. 

God understands that we are under great stress.  God understands that we are afraid and anxious.  God understands that we panic.  

God welcomes the cries of His children, His chosen ones.  He calls out to us:  “Pour out your heart before Him”.

The Psalms and the rest of Scriptures contain many such examples of His children pouring out their hearts as we see in today’s Scripture.

“17  … For I am in distress;  answer me quickly.
18 Oh draw near to my soul and redeem it;
Ransom me because of my enemies!
19 You know my reproach and my shame and my dishonor;
All my adversaries are before You.

20 Reproach has broken my heart and I am so sick.
And I looked for sympathy, but there was none,
And for comforters, but I found none.
21 They also gave me gall for my food
And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

22 May their table before them become a snare;
And when they are in peace, may it become a trap.
23 May their eyes grow dim so that they cannot see,
And make their loins shake continually.
24 Pour out Your indignation on them,
And may Your burning anger overtake them.
25 May their camp be desolate;
May none dwell in their tents.
26 For they have persecuted him whom You Yourself have smitten,
And they tell of the pain of those whom You have wounded.
27 Add iniquity to their iniquity,
And may they not come into Your righteousness.
28 May they be blotted out of the book of life
And may they not be recorded with the righteous.

29 But I am afflicted and in pain;
May Your salvation, O God, set me securely on high.”  Psalm 69:17-29.

Today’s devotion comes from Nehemiah chapter 3.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah+3&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Then Eliashib the high priest arose with his brothers the priests and built the Sheep Gate;  they consecrated it and hung its doors.  They consecrated the wall to the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel.  2 Next to him the men of Jericho built, and next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built.

3 Now the sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate;  they laid its beams and hung its doors with its bolts and bars.  4 Next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz made repairs.  And next to him Meshullam the son of Berechiah the son of Meshezabel made repairs.  And next to him Zadok the son of Baana also made repairs.”  Nehemiah 3:1-4.

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Nehemiah described how bad it was for Jerusalem to be without walls.  “Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire.  Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach.”  Nehemiah 2:17.  Without walls, there was no protection for the people therein.  The people were humiliated and could easily be attacked by their enemies.

Today’s Scripture identifies those who built up and repaired the sections of the walls around Jerusalem.

Other doctrine would rest in exhorting the builders of the walls.

But, Reformed Doctrine leads us to hope in God to protect us physically and more importantly spiritually.

“18 By Your favor do good to Zion;
Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices,
In burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then young bulls will be offered on Your altar.”  Psalm 51:18-19.

“In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:

“We have a strong city;
He sets up walls and ramparts for security.”  Isaiah 26:1.

“3 For You have been a refuge for me,
A tower of strength against the enemy.
4 Let me dwell in Your tent forever;
Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.  Selah.”  Psalm 61:3-4.

“The Lord will protect him and keep him alive,
And he shall be called blessed upon the earth;
And do not give him over to the desire of his enemies.”  Psalm 41:2.

“7 The Lord will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
8 The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.”  Psalm 121:7-8.

“11 But let all who take refuge in You be glad,
Let them ever sing for joy;
And may You shelter them,
That those who love Your name may exult in You.
12 For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord,
You surround him with favor as with a shield.”  Psalm 5:11-12.

Today’s devotion comes from Nehemiah chapter 2.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah+2&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 And it came about in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, that wine was before him, and I took up the wine and gave it to the king.  Now I had not been sad in his presence.  2 So the king said to me, “Why is your face sad though you are not sick?  This is nothing but sadness of heart.”  Then I was very much afraid.  3 I said to the king, “Let the king live forever.  Why should my face not be sad when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire?”  4 Then the king said to me, “What would you request?”  So I prayed to the God of heaven.  5 I said to the king, “If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor before you, send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.”  6 Then the king said to me, the queen sitting beside him, “How long will your journey be, and when will you return?”  So it pleased the king to send me, and I gave him a definite time.  7 And I said to the king, “If it please the king, let letters be given me for the governors of the provinces beyond the River, that they may allow me to pass through until I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress which is by the temple, for the wall of the city and for the house to which I will go.”  And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me.

…

18 I told them (the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials or the rest who would do the work to rebuild the wall) how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king’s words which he had spoken to me.  Then they said, “Let us arise and build.”  So they put their hands to the good work.  19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard it, they mocked us and despised us and said, “What is this thing you are doing?  Are you rebelling against the king?”  20 So I answered them and said to them, “The God of heaven will give us success;  therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right or memorial in Jerusalem.”  Nehemiah Chapter 2:  Verses 1-8 and 18-20.

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Are you sad?

Are you afraid?

Do you not know how you should reply to someone?

Nehemiah prayed to the God of heaven.  Verse 4.

God helped Nehemiah and will help us as well when we pray to Him.

Regarding his request to the king, Neheniah recognized:  “And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me.”  Verse 8.

Nehemiah said generally:   “The God of heaven will give us success”.  Verse 20.

When Nehemiah told them (the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials or the rest who would do the work to rebuild the wall) specifically how God helped him, they were encouraged and they began to rebuild.

When we tell others generally “The God of heaven will give us success”, a promise in Scripture, others will also be encouraged and engage in good work.

And, when we tell others specifically how God helped us, others will also be encouraged and engage in good work.

Other doctrine focuses on the individual and just exhorts him or her to use their alleged free-will and just do better.

Reformed Doctrine generally focuses on God and His promises in Scripture.

But, Reformed Doctrine also specifically tells others what God has done for them, fitting that specific help within and behind the promises in Scripture.

“Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you.”  So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.”  Luke 8:39.

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;  seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.  For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”  2 Peter 1:2-4.

Thereby, Reformed Doctrine encourages others to believe more, which in turn encourages them to engage in more good work, trusting God that He will give them success. 

Today’s devotion comes from Nehemiah chapter 1.

“1  The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.

Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capitol, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, and some men from Judah came; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped and had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem.  3 They said to me, “The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire.”

4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days;  and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.  5 I said, “I beseech You, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, 6 let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You;  I and my father’s house have sinned.  7 We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses.  8 Remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples;  9 but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell.’  10 They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand.  11 O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man.”

Now I was the cupbearer to the king.”   Nehemiah chapter 1.

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There is no hope in beseeching God:  “I will do better next time”.

But, there is much hope in beseeching God:  “They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand.”  Verse 10.

Nevertheless, other doctrine relies on man’s wisdom and man’s will and urges us to just do better next time.

But, Reformed Doctrine recognizes that we may be given a million “second chances” but we will still not please God.  “Total Depravity” summarizes man’s natural condition of being dead in sin, hostile to God, and enslaved to sin and Satan.  “Total Depravity” is the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Reformed Doctrine recognizes that our only hope is that God chose us.  We are His servants, His people.  We were redeemed by Him by His great power and His strong hand.

“Unconditional Election” summarizes that we did nothing to motivate God to choose us for redemption.  God did not choose us for redemption, because we were wise or because we willed to be saved.  “So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 9:16.  God chose us for redemption simply because He desired to do so.  “So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”  Romans 9:18.

Q. 1.  What is thy only comfort in life and death?

 A.  That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ;  who, with His precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil;  and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head;  yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto Him.  Heidelberg Catechism.

Today’s devotion comes from Ezra chapter 10.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra+10&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now while Ezra was praying and making confession, weeping and prostrating himself before the house of God, a very large assembly, men, women and children, gathered to him from Israel;  for the people wept bitterly.  2 Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land;  yet now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.  3 So now let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God;  and let it be done according to the law.  4 Arise!  For this matter is your responsibility, but we will be with you;  be courageous and act.”  Ezra 10:1-4.

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Nothing is more important to us than reconciliation with God.

Today’s Scripture shows the extent to which the people tried to be reconciled to God.  But, our hope for reconciliation with God is not based on our promise (“covenant”) to put away our sins nor our actions to do so (“let it be done according to the law.”).

Our hope for reconciliation with God is based on His promise (His covenant) and His actions “namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”  2 Corinthians 5:19.

Regarding God’s promise (His “better covenant”), “6 But now He (Christ) has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.  8 For finding fault with them, He says,

“Behold, days are coming, says the Lord,
When I will effect a new covenant
With the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;
9 Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers
On the day when I took them by the hand
To lead them out of the land of Egypt;
For they did not continue in My covenant,
And I did not care for them, says the Lord.
10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
After those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws into their minds,
And I will write them on their hearts.
And I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.
11 “And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen,
And everyone his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
For all will know Me,
From the least to the greatest of them.
12 “For I will be merciful to their iniquities,
And I will remember their sins no more.”  Hebrews 8:6-12.

“As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”  Psalm 103:12.

“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son (Christ), much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”  Romans 5:10-11.

“For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him (Christ), and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross;  through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.”  Colossians 1:19-20.

“For He (Christ) Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.”  Ephesians 2:14-16.

Today’s devotion comes from Ezra chapter 9.

“1 Now when these things had been completed, the princes approached me, saying, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, according to their abominations, those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians and the Amorites.  2 For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has intermingled with the peoples of the lands;  indeed, the hands of the princes and the rulers have been foremost in this unfaithfulness.”  3 When I heard about this matter, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled some of the hair from my head and my beard, and sat down appalled.  4 Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel on account of the unfaithfulness of the exiles gathered to me, and I sat appalled until the evening offering.

5 But at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn, and I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the Lord my God;  6 and I said, “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens. 7 Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt, and on account of our iniquities we, our kings and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity and to plunder and to open shame, as it is this day.  8 But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage.  9 For we are slaves;  yet in our bondage our God has not forsaken us, but has extended lovingkindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us reviving to raise up the house of our God, to restore its ruins and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

10 “Now, our God, what shall we say after this?  For we have forsaken Your commandments, 11 which You have commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land which you are entering to possess is an unclean land with the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations which have filled it from end to end and with their impurity. 12 So now do not give your daughters to their sons nor take their daughters to your sons, and never seek their peace or their prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it as an inheritance to your sons forever.’  13 After all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and our great guilt, since You our God have requited us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us an escaped remnant as this, 14 shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations?  Would You not be angry with us to the point of destruction, until there is no remnant nor any who escape?  15 O Lord God of Israel, You are righteous, for we have been left an escaped remnant, as it is this day;  behold, we are before You in our guilt, for no one can stand before You because of this.”  Ezra chapter 9.

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We tend to proudly march into Christmas thinking that God is well-pleased with us because of our self-righteousness and that we deserve joy and peace.

Especially on Christmas day, it is good to read today’s Scripture and humble ourselves and confess our sins.

In addition to Ezra’s humility and prayer of confession, let us consider Mary’s Magnificat (song of thanksgiving, magnifying the Lord, when she visited Elizabeth).

“46 And Mary said:

“My soul exalts the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 “For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.
49 “For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.
50 “And His mercy is upon generation after generation
Toward those who fear Him.
51 “He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.
52 “He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.
53 “He has filled the hungry with good things;
And sent away the rich empty-handed.
54 “He has given help to Israel His servant,
In remembrance of His mercy,
55 As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and his descendants forever.”  Luke 1:46-55.

Are we proud in the thoughts of our heart?

Or, are we humble like Ezra and Mary?

Do we act as rulers on our thrones?

Or, do we act like shepherds in the field?

Are we rich with all the gifts already in our hands that we opened on Christmas Eve?

Or, are we hungry for some spiritual good things this Christmas day?

Today’s devotion comes from Ezra chapter 8.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra+8&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“21 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions. 22 For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, “The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him.”  23 So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He listened to our entreaty.

…

31 Then we journeyed from the river Ahava on the twelfth of the first month to go to Jerusalem;  and the hand of our God was over us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the ambushes by the way.  32 Thus we came to Jerusalem and remained there three days.

…

35 The exiles who had come from the captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel:  12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, 12 male goats for a sin offering, all as a burnt offering to the Lord.”  Ezra Cahpter 8:  Verses 21-23 and 31-32 and 35.

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Today is Christmas Eve.  I planned on treating it like a holiday, not working, and not writing a devotion.

But, today’s Scripture convicted me that I should write a devotion.

We notice that Ezra and his group of exiles humbled themselves and sought God.

I thought:  “I likewise need to humble myself and seek God by at least writing this devotion.”

It is easy for me to feel entitled to take time off from seeking God.

I did not like my attitude.

But, I like the humble attitude and the actions of Ezra and his group of exiles in seeking God.

“The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him.”  Verse 22.

We notice that God delivered Ezra and his group of exiles from the enemy and the ambushes and that they safely came to Jerusalem.

We also notice that when they arrived, they made offerings to God.  And, we notice that God detailed in His word the total number of each animal offered.

God also takes note of each time we read His word, each prayer that we make, and each time we attend church.  They are more precious to Him than each animal offered to Him.

“4 “Since you are precious in My sight,
Since you are honored and I love you,
I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.
5 “Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
And gather you from the west.
6 “I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring My sons from afar
And My daughters from the ends of the earth,
7 Everyone who is called by My name,
And whom I have created for My glory,
Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”  Isaiah 43:4-7.