A Noticeable Change...
Last night, we started our summer Bible Study for college girls and I couldn't be more excited as we look into the book of Nehemiah this summer. It is so nice to study the Word of God with like-minded girls and sit under the teaching of Jenn Stinn. I cannot wait to see how God uses these next few months of study in my life to grow me in the knowledge of Himself. I have already learned so much and last night was the first night!
That said, we talked alot last night about what it means to be broken. To be so burdened for sin that you can do nothing but cry out to God on High! One thing that Jenn has really made me aware of the past few years, is that from before the beginning of time, God has only had one thing on His mind and planned for His people. That one thing, redemption. You can find God's plan of redemption in EVERY book, chapter, and verse of Scripture. And that is incredible to me. So, having learned that, that is always one of the first things that I look for each day that I study the Word of God. I constantly find myself asking, "How does this particular thing tie in to the redemption of God's people from sin?"
As we opened our Bibles to Nehemiah last night, the first thing that got my attention was perfectly painted picture of brokenness. We learn in the first few verses that Nehemiah is Jewish, but other than that, he has no ties to the Jerusalem or Judah, the nation of Israel. But, when he found out about the sin of the people of Jerusalem and the wall being broken, verse 4 lists five verbs. Nehemiah immediately did five things.
As soon as I heard these words I sat down
and wept and mourned for days, and I continued
fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Ok? So what's the big deal? Well, the big deal is that none of the sin that Nehemiah was broken over was his, nor did it have anything to do with him. He mourned for the sin of his people. Then, we see that Nehemiah, as cupbearer to the king, risked his life when he went before the king with a broken and saddened spirit. He submitted himself to the laws of the king and he could easily have been put to death, but the king found favor with him. Now, how does all this relate to God's plan of redemption? Stay with me!
What did Jesus Christ do in the garden the night he was betrayed? He wept for the sin of the people of the world. He was the cupbearer to the King of Kings, and He found favor with the Most High God. He was broken for my sin. He died for a sin that was not His and had nothing to do with Him. He submitted Himself to the will of the Father. WOW! What an incredible picture of salvation.
Praise the Lord that we serve a God who sympathizes with us and finds Himself broken on our behalf. It is my prayer that I will learn how to mourn over the sins of others, sins that have nothing to do with me. That I will proclaim God's plan of redemption to those around me that are not burdened by their own sin yet. I pray that the nations will see their need for a Savior and cry out to the King of all Kings! Oh to be broken in an unbroken world, what a noticeable change that will be! Pray for me! God is so good... :)
