From Rubble to RestorationSample

 Obedience

Diets.  No one likes them.  Who wants to feel like there is something you want to eat but aren’t allowed?  You may be eating a piece of celery and dreaming of that big bowl of ice cream.  But when you carefully adhere to a specific diet, you will get results.  The key is to not cheat.  When you start making small exceptions, a few potato chips here or there, or a can of soda, then you can kiss those results goodbye.  Sayonara chiseled abs, hello love handles!

At this point in our story from Nehemiah, the Israelites had been reintroduced to the Book of the Law. They came to realize that their fathers and forefathers had started making little exceptions. Just wee ones. But slowly over time, those little cheats became flat out rebellion and idol worship. What once was a people who had seen such awesome miracles of God on their behalf became a people who were enslaved by their enemies due to their rebellion.

So under some God-fearing leadership, the people turned back to God to carefully obey all the commands of the Lord.  They knew what could happen if they didn’t obey completely.  This meant they had to know what the commandments were and to follow them to a “t”.  The laws weren’t arbitrary.  They were for their own good.

As you are on your healing journey, you may have made some significant changes to your diet.  You may have given up sugar altogether.  You may be juicing raw vegetables. Whatever the case, your hard work has the biggest dividends when you carefully adhere to your eating plan.  Your healing may very well depend on it.  It may be hard, and there will be days you’d give anything for a big, greasy burger, but stop and think of how tiny cheats can lead to setbacks on your journey.  Is it worth it?

When you are getting tired or discouraged with your eating limitations on this healing journey, remember Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Questions:

1.  Have you ever been on a successful diet?  What contributed to your success?

2.  How do you think making little exceptions impacts your healing? 

3.  Is there any exception you are making in your spiritual walk you need to confess?