Where the rubber meets the . . . well, you know!

Subtitle: When it's time to walk the walk

We Christians have a love/hate relationship with the truth, don't we?
Let me explain what I mean....
We can nod approvingly during a sermon. We can pray and sing the hymn that reinforces the message. We can even write down spiritual truths as the sermon is spoken.
And then we shake hands with the minister as we are leaving, and we tell him, "That was a great sermon! Everything you said applies to someone that I know!"
(Grin)
When the truths get too specific, too close to home, we are not as smiley. We get uncomfortable. We wriggle and shift in our seat (sometimes figuratively, sometimes literally!).
We are all "for" renewal and revival. It's a wonderful concept, a lovely feeling and something to pray for and to sing about. But when it means that we must actually change the way we think? Change the way we relate to others? Change the way we spend our time and our money?
Whoaaaaa! You're meddling, now!
That's MY business!
Wellllllll, no. I think you will see what I mean after you read our next chapter in Nehemiah. Would you do me a favor? Take a few moments and pray, and ask God to guide you as you read . . . then read the tenth chapter and come back here to rejoin us?
We'll wait right here.
I promise.

All done?
Great!
To recap, in chapter eight we saw the beginning of a great revival as the people of God listened to His Word being read and explained to them. Then, in chapter nine, the people were led in prayer and they repented and confessed their sins. In chapter ten, we will see they are going to put the truths they've learned into practice -- this is where the rubber meets the road!
Kinda interesting phrase, there . . . it's the point at which the automobile begins moving forward. The rest of the car can't move unless the tires (rubber and some steel belts) do. In our lives, this could be explained as the point at which our efforts and resolve are put the test -- when our determination is challenged.
So, in chapter ten the people will make practical, personal applications of God's truth; this is the outcome of spiritual renewal in our own lives, too!
We will see in this chapter that the people and their leaders make vows to the Lord. Making a vow or a covenant with God is pretty serious. I know that some people take it rather lightly, but I don't think we should. I think we should be careful - we are making a promise to a holy God, our Creator.
Our hearts are so prone to sin and pride . . . it's easy for humans to get caught up in the rules and the legalism, and then to be proud and pat ourselves on the back for keeping the vows.  All the while our hearts are far from the Lord. We're paying more attention to the rules than to Him!
I think the main thing is to walk closely with the Lord, and apply His Word to our lives in order to ferret out sin. That will ensure that we obey His Word gladly, out of a heart filled with love for Him.
That balance is laid out for us by Paul:

Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. (Colossians 2:20-23)

The key is to not put ourselves under man-made rules that have the appearance of wisdom but actually lead to pride and are of no value against fleshly sins. To balance that out, let's look at his words to Timothy:

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. (I Timothy 4:7)

If we are going to discipline ourselves, put rules in place, then it should be for the purpose of growing in godliness.
Now that we've covered vows, let's look at the people's plan to put the truths of God's Word into their daily lives.
It's very significant that the first people on the list (the first ones to sign on) were the leaders. Nehemiah and Zedekiah (scholars say he may have been Nehemiah's assistant) were the first, followed by twenty-one priests (probably the heads of priestly households). The next were seventeen heads of Levitical households, and then forty-four patriarchs of leading families. The point is that those in leadership were willing to set the example for others. They put their "John Hancock" on there, as we sometimes say, so everyone could see. They were committed to do what they expected others to do.
Whether it's in our families, our churches, the business world, or among friends, believers must set the example by applying God's truth to our everyday lives. To "talk" one message and then "walk" another is to live in hypocrisy -- those who watch our lives to see what is different will surely notice and be disappointed. Our testimony will be compromised; we cannot expect to influence others for the gospel if we don't set examples of being committed to our Lord.
Spiritual renewal will inspire us to apply God's truth in our lives each day.

We'll continue in chapter ten tomorrow!