November 2022 Memory Verse
You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. – Nehemiah 9:20
The books of Nehemiah and Ezra clearly establish God’s continuous commitment and grace in fulfilling His plans and promises to the Israelites—be they faithful and righteous.
Throughout time, Christians have continued to repeat their failings after God’s repeated forgiveness. Is it that we do not spend adequate quality time in discernment with the Holy Spirit? We often find ourselves thanking God solely when things go according to our plans. Surely, we are more vulnerable to confusion and disappointment when we limit our decisions to “free will” rather than seeking beloved counsel from the Holy Spirit.
Nehemiah was an exiled Israelite who served as a royal cupbearer to Persian King Artaxerxes. After a significant time of prayer, he requested that the king send him as governor of Judah to Jerusalem with a group of Israelites to rebuild the wall surrounding the city. Upon successfully completing the wall in an amazing 52 days, Nehemiah (and Ezra as scribe and priest) led a greatly needed spiritual reformation. A mere 400 years after Nehemiah’s time, God sent His Son to save us from our sins so that we might have eternal life through Him.
Thankfully, one of God’s greatest gifts given to us as Christians is His Holy Spirit. As with Nehemiah, the most unlikely people can be called upon by God to fulfill His plans. Had Nehemiah not sought counsel through the Holy Spirit, he would not have known that he was an important part of God’s plan. Scripture reminds us that His purpose and plans for us are often forged in the throes of adversity.
What we can learn from the writings and messages in the books of Nehemiah and Ezra are germane today. We must acknowledge that God is most forgiving and is always true to His word and promises. “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you” (John 14:26 NLT).
Be thankful always for what God, as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, asks, promises, and provides!
By Deacon Matthew Wessendorf
