From Ruins to Revival: Embracing God’s Transformative Work in Our Lives
Devotional Guest Post: Blake Hodge
Nehemiah 12-13; 2 Corinthians 5; Proverbs 13
Thoughts from Nehemiah 12 & 13:
If we were being honest, we see a list of names in Scripture and we often gloss over it. They are usually names we can’t pronounce, and we are so removed from their stories, that we use the opportunity to save a few minutes of our Bible reading. As I was praying over this section of Scripture, it captured me. Hopefully, this observation will resonate with your spirit.
The background is that a remnant moved to Jerusalem (through the favor of a non-Jewish king) to rebuild the walls that were destroyed by an invading army. Captivity and ruin were a result of national sin. In God’s mercy, He delayed the consequences for a season. But in this moment in the story, God’s discipline had accomplished its purpose, and He was restoring a people and a city. In Nehemiah 12, the wall is completed, and the people celebrate and offer worship to God for His blessing and favor.
The names in chapter 12 are a list of those who served in ministering to the Lord in that grand celebration. In this list, we see musicians, gatekeepers, choir leaders, and heads of families. Even with this remnant, there is a significant number of people who were involved in corporate praise. This was no small work.
Can we see ourselves in this story? Humbly, I believe there is a new work of the Spirit in our day. Will we be numbered with those who minister and offer praise? Believe me, it’s not about recognition or accolades. We’ve moved beyond that to a place where the Lord is seeking bond servants who share in the aroma of Christ. Unfortunately, for many of us, the fragrance comes from a crushing – like with an olive or grape. We embody more of His scent as we learn to trust Him and lean on Him through the hardest of seasons.
In chapter 13, we see more of the story unfold. Nehemiah begins to clean house. Leaders had opened up what was holy and gave it over to the profane and common. There was intermarriage with pagan nations, and God’s law was being ignored. The Lord, through Moses, has called His chosen people to live a separate life — one of purity and holiness. Thankfully, because of the new covenant of Christ, this is no longer law/works-based but accomplished through His grace and the Holy Spirit who now lives in us. He convicts of sin and draws us to a life of godliness. He literally writes His laws on our heart!
I believe God is calling out a remnant who are discontent with the commingling of the pure and the profane. Christ is in the business of cleaning house, especially when His reputation is being tarnished. Can we take a few minutes today to examine our hearts? Can we look at our lives and evaluate them against His Word, and not against our culture or even others who profess the name of Christ. Let God do His work in us and let His fragrance be the distinguishing mark of our lives – not personality, accomplishments, or image.
I’d like to take a minute to commit this word and this work back to Him in prayer:
Lord, we consider your words. The names listed in Nehemiah 12 were people who ministered to you – some musicians, some gatekeepers, and others were serving in choirs. They celebrated the completion of the work. They gave you the praise due to your name. We don’t know these men, yet you know them, and each had a part in the story. In this moment, we worship and praise you. You have fortified walls and put your Spirit in us. In the places we feel exposed and vulnerable, we ask that you complete your work. We surrender to the life you desire to build in us. And we pray that you raise us up to minister to your heart. We ask that you use us in whatever capacity you desire. Train us and place us in your house. And for those areas we’ve allowed the enemy access, we ask that you expel him. We stand for holiness and do not want anything in our lives that would hinder us from drawing closer to you. Help us act with resolve and determination. We will no longer play games with things you hate. Please surround us with brothers and sisters who speak truth into our lives. We commit to serving each other in purity and love. We will call sin what you call sin and will not resign ourselves to lives of compromise. Give us strength and indwell us with your Spirit. Above all else, let your fragrance mark our lives.
Deepening Faith: Reflective Journal Prompts
- Reflect on a time when you felt like part of a “remnant” in your faith journey. How did this experience deepen your relationship with God and your understanding of His purpose for you?
- Consider the concept of being “crushed” like an olive or grape to produce a fragrance pleasing to God. Journal about a personal hardship or trial that, in hindsight, brought you closer to God or revealed His character in a new way.
- Nehemiah 12 celebrates the completion of the Jerusalem wall with worship and thanksgiving. Reflect on a personal accomplishment or milestone in your faith journey. How did you celebrate this moment, and how did it serve as an act of worship?
- In Nehemiah 13, Nehemiah takes action to cleanse the temple and restore order according to God’s laws. Reflect on areas of your life that may need “cleansing” or realignment with God’s will. What steps can you take to address these areas?
- The post mentions the importance of examining our hearts against God’s Word rather than against our culture or even others who profess the name of Christ. Spend time reflecting on aspects of your life that may have been influenced more by culture than by Scripture. How can you begin to shift these areas back in line with God’s Word?
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