Day 147: Neh 7:16 - 8:18

You know, we've read before about how the people of Israel reacted to the reading of the Bible for the first time in ages, and there are two very important, but very different reactions that we have now seen take place when the Word is preached to them. The first reaction is the people falling down on their faces and weeping because they know that what they have been doing has been wrong and contrary to the Word of God. This is an important step because it shows us that they truly did understand and have a deep desire to straighten up. Unfortunately, what we often see is people hear God's Word, get to this stage, and then just give up. The fact is, we can't just leave it at that. After God's people heard and wept, we see that Nehemiah and Ezra went to the people and told them to get up and celebrate that they had finally gotten the chance to learn the Word of God. This is a very important step to remember because had they not made it to this point, they may have never truly been able to move on and accept what God wanted to do in their lives. 

- Lord, help me to not just inform the world of what they're doing wrong and bring conviction on their lives, but help me to also have the strength to rejoice with them in the fact that they have heard Your Word and can now go on to live the lives that You have called them to. -