August 17
Neh 12:27-13:31 | PS 35:1-16 | Prov 21:17-18 | 1 Cor 11:1-16
In Romans 5:10, we read, "For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." In Colossians 1:21, we read, "And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled" Can you accept the fact, as Scripture states, that you were not good or neutral before accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, but were in reality, His enemy? Can you accept that those surrounding you who are not in a relationship with Jesus Christ, are likewise not good or neutral, but also God's enemies? We are all not that strong in our own flesh, as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:33, "Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”" The reality is we are to be in the world, but not of the world. If we align ourselves in strong relationships with the enemies of God, over time, there is a good chance that you will start more resembling God's enemy, than they will start becoming God's friend. We must be careful as we read in 1 Corinthians 10:12, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall".
What beautiful reforms were taking place in Jerusalem under the governorship of Nehemiah, the scribe Ezra, and the prophets Zechariah and Haggai. Elaishib, the priest no doubt excitedly took part in all of the celebrations. Yet, sadly he chose to align himself with the enemies of God. We read in Nehemiah 13:4, that he was related to Tobiah the Ammonite who directly opposed the work of Nehemiah. He actually gave this enemy of God one of the rooms in the Temple dedicated for the priests, gatekeepers, Levites, etc. This only took Nehemiah being gone a short while before Eliashib corrupted himself and the temple. But it didn't end there, as one of the other named enemies of God, was related to Eliashib through marriage, as we read in 13:28, "And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite; therefore I drove him from me." Solomon, one of the wisest men who ever lived, writer of thousands of Proverbs, along with two other books in the Bible, chose to align himself with the enemies of God through marriage, and he fell and began worshiping idols rather than the God who he loved.
Do we deem ourselves stronger than Solomon? Do we deem ourselves so strong that nothing could distract us from the pure worship of our God? Better men and women than us have fallen, do we think we are somehow different. These have been given to us as examples (1 Corinthians 10:11). Fellowship with God's friends is crucial. When seeking a spouse, joining a fellow friend of God is essential. When hanging out socially, doing so with God's friends lifts us up. We are not that strong and each day is dynamic, as we are always moving closer or farther away from God. Choose wisely!
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: