Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ... Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and lyrics from Zach Williams singing … Chain Breaker … powerfully singing of how we can stand for God’s will in this hostile world because we follow and serve a “Chain Breaker” in our Lord, King Jesus!
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Highlight Verse[s]: Nehemiah 6:15-16 [ESV] ... 15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.
… Nehemiah, following God’s calling, and against all odds marshaled God’s people to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem in 52 days; and God was honored by his stand for God’s glory.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Nehemiah 6:1-16 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… Nehemiah stood with God’s calling in spite of so many odds against him in his time.
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Reference Passage : … Luke 9:23-24 [ESV] … 23 And He said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
… Jesus’ call to discipleship - no matter what we may face!
Reference Passage : … 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… And we think we have challenges as Christians! … Here’s what Paul endured to share the Gospel with the world in his times.
Reference Passage : … Ephesians 6:13 [ESV] … 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
… God, thru Paul, calling Christians to stand with Him … following His will and His way even in a hostile world.
My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Linda Washington, uses a 19th century historical reference to illustrate what it takes to stand for Christ in the world. … The ODB author wrote: “Failure is impossible!” These words were spoken by Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906), known for her immovable stance on women’s rights in the US. Though she faced constant criticism and later an arrest, trial, and guilty verdict for voting illegally, Anthony vowed to never give up the fight to gain women the right to vote, believing her cause was just. Though she didn’t live to see the fruit of her labor, her declaration proved true. In 1920, the nineteenth amendment to the Constitution gave women the right to vote. [See photo]
Then the ODB author cited the struggle Nehemiah went thru to carry out God’s will to rebuild the walls in Jerusalem, getting the job done for God in a miraculous 52 days (see highlight passage). And that reminded me of all the Apostle Paul went thru to carry out Jesus’ call to discipleship (see reference scriptures above).
And then I had to ask myself, as all disciples of Christ should ask ourselves … “What am I doing to stand strong for Christ?” … Or even more, what can I do today to deny myself, to take up my cross, and follow my Lord? … I’ll leave it to any reader here to deal with that question, especially in light of the “Great Commission” (check out Matt. 28:19-20 - linked here on your own).
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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, ... for forging the way for me to follow You.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to deny ourselves and to follow Your will, in Your way, thru Your word. … Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.</ span>
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