A Collective Call to The Word | Nehemiah 8:4-8

And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. — Nehemiah 8:4-8 CALL OUT: To Tim Weller, a listener and partner from Reno, NV. Thanks for your support, and I pray this blesses you today. We briefly discussed what this moment might have looked like in yesterday's devotional. Forty-two thousand people gathered to hear God's Word. Ezra, a revered spiritual leader standing on a large wooden platform, unrolled the scroll and read from its wisdom. Surrounding Ezra, devoted Levites and laymen played crucial roles, ensuring everyone could hear and understand the sacred text. But there are three other details that I want to take into account. Three further details explain how this happens that I believe contribute to the effect of this moment: They Prepared to hear God's Word. They Revered the God whose words they read. They Gathered to hear and respond to God's Word. If you regularly subjected yourself to this process, you and those around you might look different than you do today. If you alone prepared, revered, and gathered around God's Word daily for 30 days, your spiritual life would look different. But if you prepared, reverved, and gathered your spouse and family around God's Word for 30 days, you, your leadership, and your marriage would look different. And then, if you and your small group or your church prepared, revered, and gathered around God's Word and deleted everything else, I believe your group and church would look different. But you will only know it if you experience it. And to experience it, you are going to have to try it. But once you try it and see God work through his Word, you will know what I am talking about, and you will have experienced what I think these people encountered on this day in history—a collective call to return to the Word of God. Don't underestimate what God can do through his Word. #Nehemiah, #GodsWord, #Bible, #wordofGod, #scrpiture, #readthebible, #calltoobedience ASK THIS: How can you apply the principles of preparation, reverence, and gathering around God's Word in your daily life to deepen your spiritual journey and understanding of Scripture? In what practical ways can a group of believers encourage one another to prioritize daily engagement with the Word of God, following the example set in Nehemiah 8:4-8? Share and discuss your ideas. DO THIS: Prepare, revere, and gather around God's Word. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me to prepare my heart, revere your Word, and gather with fellow believers to seek understanding and transformation through your Scripture, just as Ezra and the people did in Nehemiah's time. May your Word guide and shape every aspect of my life, bringing about positive change and a deeper relationship with you. Amen. PLAY THIS: Your Word. Check out other all Vince Miller's videos and audios for small groups at: https://beresolute.org/ Get Vince's most widely read resources The Daily Devotional at: https://beresolute.org/mdd Check out more ALL IN products like the one Vince is wearing at: https://beresolute.org/product-category/all-in-hats/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Vince socially: FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/millervince INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vinceleemiller LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincemiller TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vinceleemiller