Passage Read: Nehemiah 8-11
Meditation Verses: 8:9-12
Thought
What a great illustration of what my response to the Word of God should be: As I read it, I should be convicted and grieved over what it commands and how I've failed, of the judgement I deserve. I should be overcome with grief. But then I should also rejoice, because now I understand what it says and can change my ways to conform to its instruction. That should be cause for joy! So on the one hand, I should be broken hearted over what I read and all the ways I discover I fall short, but on the other hand, I should rejoice that I know now what I need to do. And I should do it. There is no reason to rejoice if I only hear what it says but have no intention of doing what it commands. That's foolishness!
Application
Reading God's Word should bring conflicting emotions. It is good to be sobered by what I read and understand. But the truth is, unless God opens my heart to hear and understand His Words, I have no hope of repentance and salvation. So the fact that I can understand to do what it says is a mercy and grace from God! And that is cause for joy and gratitude. Even Jesus said, "He who has ears, let him hear," implying that all should be able to understand, but not all would. So the grief brings motivation to obey, and the joy comes from understanding what I need to be doing. Both are correct responses, both responses need to be in my heart, and both need to do their work!