Playing the Tape Forward | Nehemiah 13:15-18
GALATIANS SCRIPTURE JOURNAL HERE: https://bit.ly/devogalatians
In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys, and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them on the day when they sold food. Tyrians also, who lived in the city, brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah, in Jerusalem itself! Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day? Did not your fathers act in this way, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath. — Nehemiah 13:15-18
CALL OUT: Big call out today to Gordo Christiansen from Vernon, VT. Thanks for your partnership in the Gospel.
GALATIANS SCRIPTURE JOURNAL HERE: https://bit.ly/devogalatians
Nehemiah shows up to discover that not only have the people neglected the tithe for the Levites (read yesterday's devotional), but the people of Jerusalem have already disregarded their Sabbath commitments.
Remember, in Nehemiah 10:31, the people committed to reinstating the Sabbath. The agreement was not to purchase goods from foreigners on the Sabbath. This was with the understanding that Sundays were standard days for trading in the present Persian culture. The issue was that Persian traders kept showing up in Jerusalem on Sabbath days, and the people were tempted to buy because it was easy.
This is precisely how temptation works in every believer's life. We make new or renewed commitments to God, and then these things progressively happen:
Cultural patterns continue.
We encounter a "weak" moment.
Old desires are resurrected.
The temptation to act is made accessible.
We justify the action.
We act in disobedience.
We are right back in the same boat as before.
For Nehemiah, the insanity and results are apparent. But for the people, it appears it isn't. This is why Nehemiah plays the tape forward for the people at the end of this text. He wants them to play the tapes forward so they will see the results of their compromised commitments.
Today, here is what I want you to do. Identify a commitment or goal you have made. It could be a spiritual, physical, or financial goal. Then, for a few minutes, play the tape forward. Play the tape forward in two ways: First, what it would look like if you kept this commitment and followed through on this goal. Second, what it would look like if you did not keep this commitment and failed to accomplish the goal. Imagine both ends in your mind. Be imaginative and descriptive. And then, like Nehemiah does with the people here, settle on the vision and ending you want.
Take some time to do this today because tomorrow, we are going to see how Nehemiah is going to make accomplishing spiritual goals even easier for the people.
#SabbathCommitment, #NehemiahWisdom, #TemptationStruggles, #SpiritualGoals, #GuardingTheFaith, #ResistingTemptation, #ChooseWisely
ASK THIS:
What specific commitment or goal have you made recently in your life, and how can you guard it against external pressures and temptations, similar to Nehemiah's challenge with the Sabbath?
As you play the tape forward in your mind, envisioning the consequences of both keeping and breaking your commitment or goal, which outcome aligns more with your desired vision for your life, and what steps can you take to reinforce your commitment towards that vision?
DO THIS: Play the tape forward in your commitments.
PRAY THIS: Lord, I humbly ask for the strength and wisdom to guard my commitments and goals as Nehemiah did, resisting the temptations that may lead me astray. Help me envision the path of obedience and grant me the determination to follow it, knowing it leads to Your blessings and fulfillment in my life. Amen.
PLAY THIS: Abide.Check out other all Vince Miller's videos and audios for small groups at: https://beresolute.org/
Get Vince's most widely read resources The Daily Devotional at: https://beresolute.org/mdd
Check out more ALL IN products like the one Vince is wearing at:
https://beresolute.org/product-category/all-in-hats/
____________________________________________________________________________________
Connect with Vince socially:
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/millervince
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vinceleemiller
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincemiller
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vinceleemiller
-
6:37
The Daily Devo by Vince Miller
1 day agoBreak The Deceptive Silence About God | 1 Samuel 10:10-16
321 -
16:30
GameLeap RAID Shadow Legends
16 hours agoTop 10 BEST FREE CHAMPIONS You MUST GET in Raid: Shadow Legends 2024 (Legendary and Epic)
4.01K3 -
37:21
Destene and Brandon
15 hours agoDoctors Visits, Weird Cravings, Amazon Skincare Haul | Destene and Brandon | VLOG
3.07K1 -
31:02
ThatStarWarsGirl
14 hours agoWoke NIGHTMARE! The Acolyte Is Absolutely INSANE!
4.88K5 -
11:10
Guns & Gadgets 2nd Amendment News
1 day agoBREAKING: Supreme Court Addresses Assault Weapons Ban & Sensitive Places Ban
5.71K17 -
31:54
Degenerate Plays
13 hours agoIn Defense Of Attack Of The Clones - Call Of Duty Modern Warfare Remastered : Part 13
4.52K -
4:04:15
Steven Crowder
16 hours agoRNC Mega Live Stream 2024 | The Trump Takeover Begins
609K665 -
7:08:45
The Charlie Kirk Show
14 hours agoDonald Trump is BACK: Live at the Republican National Convention, Day 4
341K214 -
26:54
Breaking Points
12 hours ago7/18/24 BREAKING: Biden Out THIS WEEKEND Per Report
104K36 -
3:50:26
Alex Zedra
12 hours agoLIVE! Another night of Scary Games
147K18