Day 262

Nehemiah 7:4-8:12. “Starting Off Right”

         Often we appreciate something more when we go without it for a time.  When the people returned home they took it seriously.  They took advantage of a fresh start and made the best of it.  Their response to getting serious about their relationship with God through the reading of His Word was terrific.  “All the people assembled together as one person… and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had given for Israel to obey… from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people paid close attention… when they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet. Then Ezra praised the LORD… all the people chanted, “Amen!”… they bowed and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground… The Levites read from the Book and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read… All the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the law.”
         Paul told Timothy to “focus on reading the Scriptures to the church” (1 Tim. 4:13).

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?