On-again, Off-again

Scripture

Nehemiah 9: 29b “They [the people of Israel] did not follow your regulations; by which people will find life if only they obey”.

 

Observation

The people are gathered together in a solemn assembly dedicating themselves and future generations to the Lord. In their speeches they remind themselves of the on-again off-again relationship their forebears have had with the Lord. When times got hard they cried out to God to rescue them, and He did. When times were good they refused to listen and obey the ways of the Lord and trouble beset them. This generation gathered together and saw the folly of their nation’s history and vowed to never allow it again. History shows us that the cycle unfortunately continues. But contained within this speech of remembrance, the people recognised that obedience to the ways of the Lord was truly the only way that they would find fulfilment and purpose in life. It is a lesson that hasn’t changed.

 

Application

If I were to do a history of my brief life, let alone my ancestral history, I would find evidence of similar behaviour as that of the nation of Israel over its existence. On-again off-again levels of obedience often determined by my immediate circumstances. If things are going well then it’s easy to just coast along and allow “dodgy” decisions to get through. When the consequences of these begin to take affect and times become less joyful I find myself swinging back to the Lord and crying foul of my circumstances. He must get so tired of my on-again off-again level of obedience. I can see now as people get older they generally do get wiser. The wisdom I think we gain is the reality of consequence and the stupidity of some of our selfish, un-thought-through choices. Obedience to the ways of the Lord is where I am going to find the greatest fulfilment, the highest levels of satisfaction, and the ultimate purpose of why I exist. I just need to apply that in ever increasing levels!

 

Prayer

Lord, thank you for your loving kindness and endless mercy! Without it I’d be a dead man walking. I hear the genuine cry of the men of Nehemiah’s generation and the convictions they held. I too hold those same convictions and ask that you grant me the strength to carry them through, not only for myself but for the generations that are yet to come. Help me to be obedient daily, hourly, to the ways you have set for me to live. Amen.

 

Jim Jung