Daily Encouragement

May 2, 2010 - Beware Of Who Wants To Be Your Partner

Meditation on Ezra 4

The Jews who returned to their homeland from exile had worked together to rebuild their temple. They had laid the foundation and praised the Lord with singing. Some of their enemies heard about this project also wanted to join with them in the building. It was not because they were touched by God for the service of His glory. They were actually planning to slow down the work and disturb the Jews.

The people of God had enough discernment to refuse their so called partnership. Later on the Jews found out that these enemies tried various means to obstruct the building of the temple. They accused the Jews of rebellion to the Persian King. Indeed the project was discontinued for awhile.

Whom Christians are working with is very important. Christians work or ministry should not have alliance with those who are opposing God's message and truth. Jehoshaphat the good king of Judah made alliance with Ahab, the idolatrous king of Israel which resulted in the ruin of his own country. Paul warned that believers and nonbelievers should not be equally yoked together. (2 Corinthians 6:14) Christians should be cautious on who wants to work with us in Christian cause.

May 3, 2010 - The Encouragement To Finish Divine Task

Meditation on Ezra 6

The Jewish remnant who returned to build the temple of God in Jerusalem had experienced a hard time to finish their task because of the oppositions from their enemies in the neighborhood. But God had enabled them to accomplish the job finally after years of delay. During those days of difficulties, it was the preaching of the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah that encourage them to go on. (v. 14)

Haggai told them strongly that they should not put their own comfort and prosperity above the building of God's house. (Haggai 1) Zechariah motivated them with the visions of the future and the return of the LORD. These two themes should give us plenty of impact to do the work of the Lord today.

Is there something you should finish for the Lord more important than your own? Knowing the soon reentry of the Messiah into our space personally, should we not be busy for the ministry of His kingdom?

May 4, 2010 - Appointing The Right Judge

Meditation on Ezra 7

Recently, a judge back East ruled that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional. That is appalling! Imagine what the founders of our country would think about this kind of a judge! Those men like Benjamin Franklin who initiated prayer to start the session in the Congress would never think of such an absurdity.

It is interesting to note that even a might heathen king in Persia would command Ezra to "appoint magistrates and judges that they may judge all the people who are in the province beyond the River, even all those who know the laws of your God; and you may teach anyone who is ignorant of them." (v. 25 NASB) Furthermore, the King required Ezra to make sure that everyone in his jurisdiction would obey the law of His God.

How can we insure that we would have judges that would have the common sense to respect the founding history of the Unites States? I believe that we should have many more Christians who study law and justices and our constitution. As these men who may become good lawyers and judges, then they will bring back the decency to our country which is under God who grants us the right to pursue liberty, justice and happiness.

May 5, 2010 - A Peg In His Holy Place

Meditation on Ezra 9

As Ezra prayed and confessed the sins of the remnant who had returned to the holy land, he also acknowledged God's grace in establishing them in safety in Jerusalem. He said. "But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage." (v. 8 NASB) In order to preserve this peg in the holy place, Ezra realized that the remnant of Israel should not commit the sin of marrying the gentiles who worshiped idols.

They have been chosen by God to carry His holy word and seed. Therefore they should not cohabit with the non-believers. The Messianic line must not be contaminated. There must be spiritual purity among His people. Then they would be safe as a peg in God's house.

Are you safe as a peg in His house today?

May 6, 2010 - Prayer For Our Nation

Meditation on Nehemiah 1

The recent attack by a failed attempt of a terrorist against a busy district in New York is alarming to every American. Whether the failure was due to the incompetence of the terrorist who had just became a citizen last year or other reason, we need to thank God for His protection. We also need to thank God for the failed attempt of the attack on an airplane last Christmas too. These incidences and others remind us the importance of praying for our own country.

Nehemiah was enjoying his job as a cup bearer for the king when he heard of the news of the devastation of his own nation at Jerusalem. The first thing he did was to fast and pray. He confessed the sins of his nation and sought God's mercy. His sincere petition for his country was answered and Nehemiah relied on God to lay plan for the rebuilding of his own country.

As the United States is under the attack of the terrorists constantly, there is the urgent need for Christians to pray for her safety and protection constantly. May we remind each other the necessity of repentance and reliance on God if our nation is to survive in this hard time.

May 7, 2010 - Stand Ready Against Satan's Attack

Meditation on Nehemiah 4

The amount of attacks and obstacles against Nehemiah's project of building up the wall of Jerusalem were numerous. As leader of that divine project, Nehemiah had to organize the tasks and manage the people to work together plus encourage them in the midst of all the discouragement from the enemies around them. In fact, they needed to hold one spear in one hand while the other hand was doing the construction. They needed to watch out for ambush night and day. Even when they were getting water, they needed to carry arm.

So it is today for Christians to build up the work of God and churches. It is not easy at all. It takes tremendous amount of hard work constantly. The most difficult part is that there are all kinds of criticism and attack from those who want to discredit the work of God. The nonbelievers as well as the false believers would make fun and criticize the ministry of God. Therefore Christians need to put on the full armor of God and stand firm against the schemes of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11f)

So don't be discouraged in your ministry, have faith in God and His salvation. He will strengthen you as you keep on working for Him.

May 8, 2010 - The Right Way To Confront

Meditation on Nehemiah 5

The Bible says that we should speak the truth with love. (Ephesians 4:15) Sometimes we need to confront those brothers or sisters who have deviate from the truth.

Nehemiah heard about the crying complains of the poor who had been taken advantage by the rich and powerful in the community of the remnant in the province of Judah. Since the guilty party composed of many people, he called together a large meeting to expose the practice of charging interest to the brethren and taking their own brethren into slavery as well as their fields and vineyards as a payment for what they borrowed for livelihood. Nehemiah said to them, "What you are doing is not right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?" (v. 9 NIV) He demanded that they should return to the poor all they had charged so the poor would have their own possession to live on. He gave them the examples of his own loving practices and generosity to others without taxing the people as a governor.

The people agreed to the practice of love. The even praised God for what they had agreed to do. (v. 13)

Nehemiah spoke the truth and demonstrated his own practice of the truth. His leadership was successful. The people continued to follow him to finish the task of rebuilding the wall in the following chapter.