Day 148 - Nehemiah 8-10

ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 148 - Nehemiah 8-10 (The Importance of Hearing and Teaching God's Word)
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"So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. ..."And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them."  (Nehemiah 8:8,12) 

After the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt and perhaps out of gratitude to God for His goodness, the people of the captivity living in Jerusalem wanted the Word of God read and taught to them.  So they asked Ezra to read God's Word to them and other priests and Levites helped the people to understand the Law and as we read from our text above, the people rejoiced at the teaching of God's Word because they understood it.

The above underscores the importance of preaching and teaching God's Word the Bible to all who would listen to it.  God calls a few whom He has chosen and gifts them with the ability to teach and preach His Word so that all may have opportunity to hear and believe in Him and in His Son Jesus Christ.  And as we read from our text above, those who heard the teaching "rejoiced greatly because they understood the words that were declared to them."

The apostle Paul wrote to His son in the faith Timothy, ^"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy3:16-17)."  Paul also encouraged Timothy to "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15)."

As Paul and Timothy were called by God to teach the Word, so also many today are called to the same ministry.  The New Testament teaches that God raises up elders within the local church whose job among others is to teach the Bible: "Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine (1 Timothy 5:17)." 

Jesus' last words before He ascended to heaven were, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20)."  

Based on Christ Words above, every Christian, therefore, is called to a certain degree to teach or share the Word (at the minimum, to explain the gospel in such a way that the unsaved person could understand and make a decision to receive or reject Christ) with the end goal of making disciples.

Every living person is either called by God to share the Word or listen to the Word.  Which one are you?  In any case, I pray God will grant you the desire to hear and learn God's Word and eventually to share it with others.