Month: September 2025

If there is one book that addresses both congregant and leader it is this one. Malachi was chosen to speak words that condemn those in leadership because of their unfaithfulness, but it also speaks to the congregation for their unwillingness to speak for the Lord. So, this is a timely book for all generations. 

In today’s world we see many who stand in the pulpit espousing God’s word but behind the pulpit their lives do not mirror the truths they proclaim. As a member of the congregation, we are to listen and examine both their words and their lives. God is saying, I am holding you all responsible both then and now. 

Listen to the Lord: ”For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts” The pastor or priest is to speak for God to the people. Are we listening? 

When you or I as a child played games such as follow the leader, we were challenged to follow the leader’s instructions “to the letter” or forfeit the goal’s results. The Israelites were in a quandary about whose leadership should they follow. On the one hand, as long as Nehemiah was in their presence, they felt secure and followed what he said.Then Ezra came on the scene and he read from the scriptures and their hearts were challenged to obey God. Then there were the enemies outside of Jerusalem who taunted the people and sought to challenge them from following God and His ways. It is the same today. There are many voices calling us to follow their way and we must be discerning. 

The psalmist seems to have understood this and as he wrote, he said, following God’s ways is as if they were dreaming. They had spent years in Babylon and now they were in Jerusalem with new rules, new regulations all coming from the Word of God. How then to discern? How to know which leader should they follow? But, as Ezra read the Book of the Law and Nehemiah raised a choir to sing God’s praises it became clear: Follow Jehovah or be left behind. It was then that the psalmist recorded these words: “The Lord did indeed accomplish great things for us. We were happy.” 

How about you? Which leader are you following? Are you happy or still in line following a leader that may lead you astray? Choose ye this day whom you will serve are the words of Joshua and they are still today challenging and apropos.

Today we enter the sanctuary and the reader of the scripture, or the one chosen to impart the Word for that day are, for the most part, clearly understood. However, place yourself in a foreign culture and you will soon find yourself lost as to the meaning and understanding. Those Ezra addressed were like the latter since they had lived many years in Babylon and knew that language but not the Aramaic of the land. Ezra could have just read and hoped for understanding but instead he had men who were bilingual stationed by groups of people to help them understand. These could listen to Ezra and then translate what he said to the people. Reading and listening are two different skills. Today we have several translations of the Bible and in that way no matter your language, you are able to understand the written word. We also have bilingual vocal translators to add to our understanding. 

Today let’s stop and thank God for these wonderful opportunities to hear and read. God has gifted men and women who have the gift of translation. Men, women and children now have access to these gifts and the gospel is being proclaimed around the world through them. 

Nehemiah is such an example of bravery in the midst of the enemy’s fear and intimidation. When the Jews received the letter from Sanballat and the “voice messages” to them, Nehemiah courageously reminded Sanballat that this was a lie and he would not fall for it. Don’t you just love these words of Nehemiah? “I am engaged in an important work, and I am unable to come down. Why should the work come to a halt when I leave it to come down to you?” [6:3] That speaks of wisdom and bravery. We should use his example when others seek to disarm us or dissuade us from the work the Lord has called us to do. What or who is putting words on paper or in a voice messages to cause you to fear. Fear is of the enemy and should not be listened to or obeyed. 

Today, conquer fear with the strength that the Holy Spirit gives to you. Conquer fear with words of scripture and prayer. 

God had opened His windows of heaven and given Nehemiah all that he needed  from the king to go and reconstruct the walls of Jerusalem…and it happened just as he prayed because prayer is powerful. Prayer touches the heart of God and He acts. But, just as we have seen in the recent happenings in our own land, there are enemies who do the bidding of our arch enemy: seek, kill and destroy. But, God is greater than the enemy and He responded with wisdom for Nehemiah.  Also the enemies without are not the only enemy Nehemiah faced just as we do. There were some who refused to join the work to their shame. While their fellow Tekoa city members worked, these who refused scoffed and sat on their hands. God remember them for their disgraceful actions! But, what they didn’t realize or remember is that God sees all and He has recorded the faithful as well as the unfaithful to their shame. Which would you rather have as a remembrance? 

Today as you go about your work, recall God’s faithfulness to the work He has called you to do. Pray and expect Him to respond with grace and favor. Do not let the discouragement of the scoffers to keep you from God’s blessing. Keep in a mode of prayer for that is what God uses to bring about His plan. 

The Judahites who lived in Babylon for 70 years have now been released from this bondage by the King. In this time, God raised up a man who had determined some time ago to study the scriptures that he might know the way of the Lord for His people. Ezra’s diligence prepared him for the task of reuniting the people both physically and spiritually. “Now Ezra had dedicated himself to the study of the law of the Lord, to its observance, and to teaching its statutes and judgments in Israel.”  God blessed Ezra and the King gave him permission to  go to Israel. He also gave him provisions to take for the observance of the ways of God in the temple. Sometimes we see the hand of God moving amongst us and other times His ways are mysterious. Yet, this we know, that when God has determined His plan, He raises up men to fill that cup in ways that are what we call a God thing. We stand amazed at this man Ezra for his diligence and how God blessed him. 

How has God given you the desire to be dedicated to the ways of God for His people? What has been the fruit of that dedication? 

After the plot of Haman was discovered by Queen Esther and Mordecai, the king allowed them to establish a day to rejoice because God had protected His people. Then “Mordecai worked enthusiastically for the good of his people and was an advocate for the welfare of all his descendants.” Is this what we do when God has spoken, has performed? Do we work for the good of the people? Are we an advocate for the welfare of those who are in need? 

Recently a young man was killed for speaking the truth. It is now up to us to carry on his legacy by working for the good of the people. It is up to us to be that advocate. Where has God called you to do this for your people? Our arch enemy, Satan, will continue to seek, kill and destroy but our work for God will grow and be blessed.  Stand up and be counted today! 

Rom 1:22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools sums up the king of the Persian empire. The king wanted to seek praise from his kingdom so he planned a banquet for all his royal officials and his servants for 180 days! Imagine being a cook for those many people and days! History reveals that the purpose was to show his wealth even though he was a defeated warrior. So, in essence, the king was trying to cover up failure by wining and dining his court so they would forget his disaster at the hands of his enemies. The king was foolish to think that this would change the future of his kingdom, but I digress. Let’s see what really went on. He became drunk for many days and in that drunken stupor decided to humiliate his queen who was wiser than her husband by refusing to “cow-tow” to his demands. She may have lost her role but he lost the prestige he sought. 

Several months later, after following another foolish decision, the king revealed he was a fool from the beginning, but God had a plan to reveal his foolishness by using an evil man and a new queen named Esther. She was not only beautiful, but wise. Esther was made the new queen with all its wealth and perks and yet she remained silent about her heritage. In this time, God, Mordecai reveals  a plan to destroy her people, the Jews. With help from her uncle Mordecai she planned how to circumvent Haman’s plan. End of story; Haman is executed, Mordecai is raised and the king learns a lesson in humility and grace through one very wise woman. 

What are we to learn from this story that is remembered each year as Purim. You may be in “exile” but God sees and protects His own in ways that we could not even fathom! As Joseph noted, God can use even what men design as foolish or  evil to protect His own. 

In this very long passage we see both the remnant who return and praise the Lord as opposed to the wicked leaders who fail in their role to teach the people. The King of Glory is revealed and His people see Him, some to praise and some to ridicule. As I read these chapters three images came to my mind, one of when I was in a religion class in college where the Jewish professor mocked the beliefs of the Christian students, the second was in a geography class at a church in Atlanta and the third of my neighbor who mocked all religions. Why those images came to my mind is strange, but this I know, God brings these to remind us that no matter which century we live in there will be mockers and scorners. As Zechariah posted these chapters his heart was immediately awakened to the truth that one day the King of Glory will appear and He will right all wrongs, He will reveal that He is the Truth, the Way and the Life and no one comes to the Father but by Him. 

My question to you, the reader, how do you see Christ? Is He your Savior or do you reject Him? Will you bow the knee to Him or mock Him? Are you a person of truth? Will you stand strong for Him when others mock? 

The remnant that has returned to the promised land after 70 yrs of captivity in Babylon begin to reconstruct the Temple. In their time of discouragement, Haggai pronounced that God was with them as they built. When God calls us to do a task for him, we can be assured that He is with us. He will bless our task and our workers in order that He is blessed and glorified. Today if God has called you to a task, be assured, God will be with you. He will bless you so His name is glorified.