STICKING TOGETHER
Today's reading:  Nehemiah 10-13

"...So we promise together not to neglect the Temple of our God."  Nehemiah 10:39 NLT

The people of Nehemiah's time were being revived.  They were, at this time, making some big changes--in their hearts, in their homes, in their community.  They were determining individually to follow Yahweh, and that individual choice infected their entire congregation.

They made vows about how they would marry off their sons and daughters.  No marriages would be allowed to people of the pagan nations surrounding them.

They made vows that they would continue on and contribute to the Temple taxes and annual festivals held in the Lord's name.

They voted on and decided to uphold certain dates of the year for their priests to come before God and offer sacrifices on their own behalf.

Then?

Then they agreed as a community to support their Temple.  They vowed to give their time, their tithes, their attendance and their prayers to keeping God's house alive and active in their community.  They promised to be a vital part of the goings on of the church.  They gave their word that they would support the Lord's house spiritually and physically.  They all agreed that though they may never agree 100 percent on any given topic, the Lord God of Israel is who they all agreed upon--therefore, they would continue in His name!

Have you done the same?