DCLM Higher Everyday 12 April 2023 — Listening to Gods word
DCLM Higher Everyday 12 April 2023 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Listening to Gods word
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TOPIC: Listening To God’s Word.
Text — Nehemiah 8:1-8
2And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
3And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
4And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
5And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:
6And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
7Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.
8So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
Key Verse: ‘’And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law’’ (Nehemiah 8:3).
Message
History dates back to when there was no writing to preserve records. The traditional record keeping was by oral narrative from parents to children who were competent listeners and they in turn passed the same to younger generations. The computer age has made record-keeping easier. Training, teaching, and listening to understand, remain major means of communication.
In our text, Judah returned to Jerusalem after 70 years of captivity in Babylon. Ezra, the priest opened the book of the law as recorded by Moses to teach all “those that could understand.’’ The good testimony about these new generations of returnees was that, “the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.’’ They also stood up in reverence to the word and answered “Amen.’’
We are to pay attention to the word of God from the pulpit or through electronic media. Our Lord, Jesus, commended Mary for her interest in God’s word (Luke 10:42). Do not engage in any other business while the word of God is being preached. Listen to hear what the Lord will minister to you.
Quote: Pay attention to the word of God
Challenge: Be a good listener for adequate comprehension.
Prayer for today: Oh God, make me an attentive listener to your word, in Jesus’ name.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
