What is striking here is the very last verse of this chapter:
“We will not neglect the house of our God.”
While I can appreciate what Nehemiah and the others were trying to do to create a new covenant with God whom they had already repeatedly neglected, the Truth is that we WILL neglect God!
It says so here in that famous exchange between Jesus and Peter at the last supper.
27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:
“‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.’
28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”
30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice[e] you yourself will disown me three times.”
31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same. (Mark 14-27-31)
Truth says we ARE fallen and we ARE lost and this can only be reconciled through the birth and resurrection of Jesus and our own acceptance of Christ as our Lord and Savior. We can't say we will not neglect God because we will! But when we do we can take comfort that if we repent we can ask God for His forgiveness, for Him to purify us of our sin and for us to grow in our love and trust in Jesus that we can follow Him with all of our heart as we are commanded to do.
My Prayer: Lord, that you came to earth for us, lived a perfect life, then died for us is MORE than anything I can ask anyone to ever do for me and for that I am in awe that you love me and desire me. Thank you Jesus. Forgive me that I DO neglect you (daily) and help rid me of my earthly idols and laziness and help me live a life that truly glorifies you and serves you and your will.
