READ: Nehemiah 8:1-12
Key Scripture: And he read (the word of God), 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. All the people wept when they heard the words of the law (Nehemiah 8:3;9).
THOUGHTS
One young chap came to me with this question: "I keep messing up: how do I come back to God?" I looked at him and could perceive his sincerity. He actually seemed determined to live in the presence of God and avoid sin. But from the tone of his voice, he had been failing in that regard. Perhaps he craved for a superior ability to live above his weakness or thirsted for a simple how-to-do-it code. But I told him, "Give yourself to the word of God." Many of us find it very difficult to read the bible and even when we read we don't understand, because we're distracted. Ezra read the book of the law to the people – from morning till midday. How many hours? And they were not in a hurry to leave. They were attentive to it, and they even wept. Do we allow the word of God to touch us to the point of weeping or even being moody? We must go back to the word of God so that we can come back fully to God.