Then I said, “What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?” Nehemiah 5:9
Actions or choices are made every day by each and every person. Every action done is either good or bad to some degree or more, nothing is completely neutral. The world tends to believe that whatever makes one happy in the moment or to meet an immediate desire and does not immediately harm anyone else is good, regardless of what is done or any other ruling.
The Israelites had been charging usury on their fellow Israelites. Nehemiah told them that what they were doing was not good and that they should walk in the fear of God when the enemies go against them.
The world does not hold a rock-solid standard on which everyone stands and never changes. It is constantly changing to meet the individual or group’s selfish desires. According to the world, sinful actions do not really exist, and anything can be permissible.
Even though God has a solid standard to live by many in the church have chosen to think and act in the way that the world does. They will treat each other badly in many different ways, rather than with the love, mercy and forgiveness of God. The get caught up in the moment with selfish desires forgetting what God has done for them and living for themselves.
God has laid out a standard of living in love, holiness and righteousness, regardless of what the world does. Jesus was a living example of how to live life.
Every believer needs to stop acting like the world and begin living like Jesus. Their lives need to be filled with love, forgiveness, generosity, kindness and all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, walking in the fear of God.
You will interact with people, both believers and non-believers, every day. As you do so, you must put on the character of Jesus in what you say and do.
The world will try to pressure you into taking sinful actions. Lean into the Holy Spirit and be led by Him to do the correct thing. Walk in the fear of God so that everything you say and do will be what He desires, not as the world does.
Will God have to say what you are doing is not good?
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know how God wants to act and speak; that you will live as Jesus lived; that all you say and do will please God; and that the world will know you follow God with all of your heart.
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