Tag: God’s Word

The Wound That Heals: Conviction vs Condemnation

In Nehemiah 7:4-8:12, we see a powerful moment where the people of Israel come together to hear the Word of God read aloud after years of exile. It’s not just about listening to the words; the people are actively seeking to understand them. Ezra, alongside the Levites, reads and explains the Law to the gathered crowd. Their response is immediate and emotional—they begin to weep. The Word of God has brought deep conviction to their hearts, showing them just how far they’ve strayed.

But here’s the key part: Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites tell the people not to mourn. They say, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep” (Nehemiah 8:9). Although the people are convicted, they are not condemned. The leaders encourage them to move from sorrow to celebration, pointing out that “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). This is a perfect picture of how God’s Word works—it reveals where we’ve fallen short but also points us toward God’s grace and restoration.

This passage shows us the value of reading, teaching, and understanding God’s Word in a community. It wasn’t just a private reading of Scripture but a public gathering where the Law was explained clearly so everyone could understand. There’s something powerful about engaging with God’s Word together, where questions can be asked, and insights can be shared. Too often, we read the Bible quickly or casually, but this moment in Nehemiah highlights the importance of understanding, not just hearing, the Word. When we seek to really understand Scripture, it brings clarity and leads to transformation.

What we also see in Nehemiah is the important distinction between conviction and condemnation. Conviction is what happens when God’s Word reveals an area in our lives that needs change. It’s the Holy Spirit showing us our sin so we can repent and turn back to God. Conviction leads to life and growth. Condemnation, on the other hand, leads to shame, guilt, and a sense of hopelessness. It drives us away from God, making us feel like we’re beyond help. But Romans 8:1 reminds us, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Just like in Nehemiah’s time, God’s Word convicts us but doesn’t condemn us.

For Christians today, this is a powerful reminder of how we should approach Scripture. We should let God’s Word bring conviction where it’s needed but always remember that it’s meant to lead us to life, not to drive us into guilt and despair. The people in Nehemiah’s time wept at the realization of their sin, but they were urged to celebrate because God was offering them joy and strength.

As we spend time reading and understanding the Bible, both individually and with others, we open ourselves up to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. We may feel convicted, but that conviction is always accompanied by grace and the opportunity to grow closer to God. That’s the difference between conviction and condemnation—one leads to life and the other to separation from God. The more we engage with God’s Word, the more we realize that conviction is a gift that brings us back into alignment with His will, reminding us of His grace and love.

The Whole Council of God

In 2 Kings 22:8-13 and 2 Chronicles 34:14-21, we read about a significant moment in Judah’s history. During the reign of King Josiah, the high priest Hilkiah discovered the Book of the Law in the temple. This discovery had a profound impact on Josiah and the nation. Upon hearing the words of the Book of the Law, Josiah tore his clothes in distress, recognizing the severity of Judah’s deviation from God’s commandments.

This narrative draws a powerful parallel to our contemporary experience. Just as the Book of the Law lay hidden and neglected in the temple, we often have Bibles in our homes that we rarely open. Even when we do engage with Scripture, we may limit ourselves to familiar and comfortable passages, such as the Gospels or certain New Testament epistles, neglecting the full breadth and depth of God’s Word.

Josiah’s reaction to the rediscovered Scriptures emphasizes the transformative power of engaging with the entirety of God’s Word. The Scriptures were not just historical documents for Josiah; they were alive and active, revealing God’s will and calling His people back to Him. This same dynamic is available to us today. When we restrict our reading to only certain parts of the Bible, we miss out on the comprehensive revelation of who God is and what He desires for us.

The rediscovery of the Book of the Law led to a national revival. Josiah read the words of the Law to all the people and renewed the covenant with the Lord, pledging to follow Him wholeheartedly. This act of seeking and valuing God’s Word brought about significant reform and renewal in Judah. Similarly, when we fully engage with Scripture, allowing all of its parts to speak into our lives, we experience personal and communal transformation.

A real-life example of this might include committing to read through the entire Bible, not just the parts we are most comfortable with. This could involve a structured reading plan that ensures we encounter the full scope of God’s Word. By doing so, we gain a more complete understanding of God’s character, His plans, and His purposes. We are reminded of His holiness and justice, His love and mercy, and His call for us to live in a way that honors Him.

Just as Josiah’s discovery of the Book of the Law led to a revival in Judah, our renewed commitment to seeking God’s Word in its entirety can bring about spiritual awakening and transformation in our lives and communities. Let us follow Josiah’s example, valuing the whole of Scripture and allowing it to shape our hearts and actions.

Reflection Questions:

  1. How can you commit to reading the entire Bible and not just the parts you are most comfortable with?
  2. In what ways has reading less familiar parts of the Bible transformed your understanding of God?
  3. How can you encourage others to seek and value the fullness of Scripture?

True For You

During today’s reading I was struck by Micah’s unflinching indictment of the people of Israel: “Your inhabitants are liars and their tongues speak deceitfully.” This isn’t just a casual mention of dishonesty; it’s a profound commentary on the state of their hearts. They had become so accustomed to lying that it had woven itself into the fabric of their lives. Truth had become foreign to them.

Habits shape our reality. What we do consistently becomes part of who we are. In the case of Israel, years of dishonesty had led them to a place where deceit felt normal, even right. This gradual erosion of truth is something we must guard against in our own lives. Proverbs 12:22 reminds us, “The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”

When sin becomes a way of life, it distorts our perception. What starts as a small compromise can grow into a lifestyle that blinds us to the truth. Isaiah 5:20 warns, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness.” This is the danger Israel faced, and it is the same danger we face when we allow sin to take root in our hearts.

For hundreds of years, the Israelites struggled with this very issue. From the time they entered the Promised Land, they were repeatedly warned to remain faithful to God and His commandments. Yet, time and again, they turned to other gods and embraced practices that were abominations in God’s sight. This resulted in confusion and moral decay, leaving them unable to discern right from wrong.

In a world where subjective truth is often championed, it’s crucial to anchor ourselves in an objective reality outside of ourselves. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” We cannot trust our own hearts to determine what is right. We need an external standard, and that standard is God’s Word. Jesus proclaimed in John 17:17, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”

Reflect on your habits. Are there areas in your life where sin has become so routine that it feels right? Are there compromises you’ve made that need to be addressed? Romans 12:2 urges us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Let God’s Word transform your habits and align your life with His truth.

Take time this week to examine your habits in light of God’s Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas where you have allowed sin to become normalized. Commit to making changes, no matter how small, to bring your life back in alignment with God’s objective truth.

Hidden in the Familiar

Psalm 78:2-3a says, “I will sing a song that imparts wisdom; I will make insightful observations about the past. What we have heard and learned (NET)” And I was struck by how often that happens to me. I will read a well-trodden, often discussed, and much taught passage, say… John 3:16, and think “I have heard and read this so many times! I would rather read some obscure passage and get the meat off of that bone rather than chewing on this meat-stripped this bone AGAIN!”

Ha!

That’s when God shows me some connection I had previous missed. Some truth that I had never noticed before. God’s Word is like an iceberg. There is so much more below the surface that to plumb the depths to exhaustion is nigh impossible. And what’s more? Sometimes you and I are not READY to see the next insight or peel back another layer of depth. Our hearts are not ready. Or our minds are not ready. In these cases, there is more that we need to understand in order to gain a more complete grasp of the depth of the words of Scripture.

So, when you come to God’s Word, come asking the Lord to open your eyes, mind, and heart. Come EXPECTING that the Lord will continue to unfold the fullness of His glorious truth!

He will. Amen.

The Word of the Lord

Just a quick demo for today. The Lord tells us where His commands, His instructions, His words should be. This list is succinct and significant.

  1. In your heart — the heart is prone to deceit (Jer 17:9) and so God’s word must be used to guard the heart.
  2. Taught to the children — Raise up a child in the way they should go and they will not depart from it (Pro 22:6). This is both an encouragement AND a grave warning. If God’s word is important, it must be given to the next generation so they are protected as we are.
  3. Be employed at home — We should centre our lives around God’s good word.
  4. Be employed away from home — A break from our houses doesn’t mean a break from the founding, grounding word of the Lord in our lives. We should not change from here to there, but be consistent in everything.
  5. Be considered at bedtime — We should end our days in God’s word and presence. Committing even our dreams to Him.
  6. Be considered upon waking — We should begin each new day with Him. It is a gift. A day He has made. Let’s rejoice and be glad in it!
  7. Be on our forearms — our hands are used to do whatever we work at, and our actions should be guided by God’s word.
  8. Be on our foreheads — each thought should be subject to God’s word. What is driving and motivating us?
  9. Be on our doorposts and gates — a callback to the passover. God’s word should be serving to protect our homes and families from God’s judgement.

If any of these areas are lacking, it is certainly worth shoring it up.

Deuteronomy 6-9 | 073/365