WHY IS THE HOUSE OF GOD FORSAKEN?
After Nehemiah completed the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, he was recalled by King Artaxerxes. When he obtained leave from the king and returned to Jerusalem, he found that those he had left in charge had not kept their promise to support the house of God. Many of its priests and musicians had left the ministry and returned to their lands to farm, in order to support their families. The tithes and offerings were not being given, the ministry was in decline and even the newly rebuilt Temple was already showing signs of neglect. Nehemiah couldn’t believe how quickly the people had forsaken the house of God. So he led in rebuilding the ministry of God’s house.
The same question might be posed of believers today, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” Where are those who will call us back to God? Where are the people of God who will pray and give sacrificially to take up the ministry of God’s house?
PRAYER: Dear Father, we are Your house. For Your Son is the Chief Cornerstone and we are its living stones, being being up into a spiritual house. Forgive us where we have forsaken Your ministry and where we have forsaken our first love, Jesus Christ. Strengthen us by Your Spirit this day to be faithful and to do the work You have called us to do. In Jesus’ name, amen.