The Cleansing Sought

Scripture: Nehemiah 12:30

The priests and the Levites purified themselves; they also purified the people, the gates and the wall.

Insights:  Yesterday we learned that a celebration party was taking place as a result of the revival that was occurring in the lives of the people.  The text, in verse thirty, almost does a,”But I forgot to mention this happened before the party,” kind of thing.  Here is what I mean: the dedication celebration consisted of more than just fun and games.  Before the joy of the moment could be experienced the people had to seek cleansing from their sins.  Holiness precedes joy.  We cannot live in moral carelessness and sin and still think we can have joy.  A tolerance for evil and a laughing off of the things the Lord God hates are not possible for joy to reside in one’s life.  The priests and the Levites purified themselves and then they purified the people and finally they consecrated the gates and the wall itself.  This scene in the twelfth chapter is a picture of joy, but you need to understand the second part of this joy is found in service.  You recall after the revival actually began when Ezra read the Word of God to the people that they began to take meat to those that did not have any.  The natural response to an encounter with God is to share it with other people.  I mention this because if we are going to minister to people our hearts also must be clean before God.  In other words, before we can celebrate properly and even before we can serve well we must be in a right relationship with the Lord God.  We need to ask the Lord to search our hearts and to reveal to us any wicked way.  And when the Lord does reveal sin to us we need to quickly repent and turn back to Him.  Beloved, when we do repent, we are ready to celebrate with joy and serve with gladness.

Questions:

1. Are you harboring any known sin in your life?
2. Are you willing to repent and allow the Lord to cleanse you?

Prayer: Father, search my heart and reveal to me any wicked way.  I desire purity and holiness over my sinfulness.  As I repent of the sins You reveal to me, let me also have Your strength so I may remain in holiness.  Amen.