DAY 265 Read Nehemiah 3 through 5.
Today's reading: Nehemiah, a man of action, inspired the dispirited builders with zeal. He met opposition and threats of violence with confident faith in God--and with vigorous action to counter the enemies' moves. But he also took measures to clean out corruption among God's people.
Memory gem: "Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?" (Nehemiah 5:9).
Thought for today:
"The customs of the world are no criterion for the Christian. He is not to imitate its sharp practices, its overreaching, its extortion. Every unjust act toward a fellow being is a violation of the golden rule. Every wrong done to the children of God is done to Christ Himself in the person of His saints....
"The slightest departure from rectitude breaks down the barriers and prepares the heart to do greater injustice. Just to that extent that a man would gain advantage for himself at the disadvantage of another, will his soul become insensible to the influence of the Spirit of God. Gain obtained at such a cost is fearful loss.
"We were all debtors to divine justice; but we had nothing with which to pay the debt. Then the Son of God, who pities us, paid the price of our redemption. He became poor that through His poverty we might be rich. By deeds of liberality toward His poor we may prove the sincerity of our gratitude for the mercy extended to us. 'Let us do good unto all men,' the apostle Paul enjoins, 'especially unto them who are of the household of faith,' Galatians 6:10. And his words accord with those of the Saviour: 'Ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good.' Mark 14:7. 'Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.' Matthew 7:12."--Prophets and Kings, pp. 651, 652.
NOTE: To the three enemies listed in chapter 2, another is added in Nehemiah 4:7--the Ashdodites, or Philistines. A look at a map of the period reveals that Nehemiah's little province of Judah was completely encircled by hostile neighbors: Samaria on the north, Ammon across the Jordan on the east. Edom of the south, and Ashdod on the west.
Today's reading: Nehemiah, a man of action, inspired the dispirited builders with zeal. He met opposition and threats of violence with confident faith in God--and with vigorous action to counter the enemies' moves. But he also took measures to clean out corruption among God's people.
Memory gem: "Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?" (Nehemiah 5:9).
Thought for today:
"The customs of the world are no criterion for the Christian. He is not to imitate its sharp practices, its overreaching, its extortion. Every unjust act toward a fellow being is a violation of the golden rule. Every wrong done to the children of God is done to Christ Himself in the person of His saints....
"The slightest departure from rectitude breaks down the barriers and prepares the heart to do greater injustice. Just to that extent that a man would gain advantage for himself at the disadvantage of another, will his soul become insensible to the influence of the Spirit of God. Gain obtained at such a cost is fearful loss.
"We were all debtors to divine justice; but we had nothing with which to pay the debt. Then the Son of God, who pities us, paid the price of our redemption. He became poor that through His poverty we might be rich. By deeds of liberality toward His poor we may prove the sincerity of our gratitude for the mercy extended to us. 'Let us do good unto all men,' the apostle Paul enjoins, 'especially unto them who are of the household of faith,' Galatians 6:10. And his words accord with those of the Saviour: 'Ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good.' Mark 14:7. 'Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.' Matthew 7:12."--Prophets and Kings, pp. 651, 652.
NOTE: To the three enemies listed in chapter 2, another is added in Nehemiah 4:7--the Ashdodites, or Philistines. A look at a map of the period reveals that Nehemiah's little province of Judah was completely encircled by hostile neighbors: Samaria on the north, Ammon across the Jordan on the east. Edom of the south, and Ashdod on the west.
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