Two Kindred Spirits

Bill, who is Out of the Bloo, is among that group of bloggers whom I consider true kindred spirits. In a recent post he meditated on Nehemiah 8:5-12. It's a wonderful passage. The returning exiles are confronted and chastened when they hear the reading of the law, but Nehemiah and Ezra and the priests say over and over (it is repeated three times here), "Do not grieve, for this day is holy to the Lord."

These band of returning exiles, in hearing the reading of the Torah, recognized not only their own sinfulness, but that in returning to the land of the Promise they were stepping back into the stream of God's plan and provision for Israel. They were stepping back into God's grand story, his plan to bless the nations through Israel, and at first the realization simply daunted them. But their priests went among them speaking the joy of the Lord, calling on them to not grieve but to celebrate. For the joy of the Lord would be their strength.

This is fertile territory for meditation. God will always bless those who dwell quietly upon His word. Thanks, Bill, for helping us to do just that.

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Broken Messenger, another kindred spirit, has posted twelve questions for your consideration. These are good questions. Tough questions. Not questions that can be answered blithely, or quickly set aside. They are questions that confront, challenge, and lovingly probe the conscience of every believer. Print them out. Stick them in your Bible. Pick one at a time and let that one question resound in your inner being for a long while. Answer them as if it is Jesus asking, remember that He always blesses the poor in spirit. I believe that you will be blessed by dwelling on these questions.