When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall.
Thoughts on Today’s Verse…
Nehemiah had returned to Judea from serving a foreign king who authorized him to rebuild the broken structures in Jerusalem and rally the people to repopulate the Holy City, re-commit to purity, and rebuild the city walls to protect the people inside. As the people finished rebuilding the walls, Nehemiah insisted that the key leaders and everyday places must be purified. They had to do that before they began their normal daily lives inside the walls and continued their work of purifying the people. Nehemiah reminds us that before we try to “clean up” those around us, we must first offer ourselves to God to be consecrated and made pure by his grace. Then, we can live demonstrating the impact of God’s holiness on those around us. This principle is similar to what Jesus told us to remove the plank from our own eye before we try to clean the speck out of someone else’s eye (Luke 6:41-42). For leaders at any level — church, work, teams, families — dedicating ourselves to holiness is essential before calling others to holiness! God’s most significant spiritual renewal movements begin with leaders consecrating themselves to the LORD and then leading others toward God’s holy way of living.
My Prayer…
O Father in heaven, forgive me for my sins. I want to be pure and holy, cleansed by your Spirit and forgiven by your grace. Please bless me as I seek to live a holy life before those I seek to influence. I need your powerful help to be the example and person of character that you want me to be and that my friends need me to be. I ask this in the name of Jesus, my Savior and LORD. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
