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Watching Over God’s Treasure

By totalfamilylife.com
Religion & Spirituality devotion with opening hand
JUL 4, 2015 LISTEN
devotion with opening hand

TEXT: NEHEMIAH 7:1-4
Key verse: “… Let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, and everyone to be over against his house…“ ( Nehemiah 7:3 ).

God's special care for His own Church is the reason He sets shepherds or overseers to watch over them. They provide nourishment, protection and love for His sheep. He says: “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem…” ( Isaiah 62:6 ). God's watchmen warn, instruct, correct and see to the growth and increase of His flock.

Having fortified Jerusalem with gates and walls, Nehemiah's next care was to see that the city was kept. He appointed porters, singers and Levites in their places. Also, governors were appointed to take care of the city and to provide public peace and safety. The men so appointed had integrity and they feared God. He instructed that the gates be shut and barred every night. The walls also must be guarded. The walls would be to no purpose if the gates remained open.

God expects us to be vigilant and watchful over spiritual and physical things. Ourselves, houses and all the heritage of God in our charge must come under our watchful eyes. We must not be presumptuous. The general safety of our church, family and the country (physically and spiritually) depends upon every one's particular effort to guard himself/herself and his/her own family against sin and that common enemy – the devil.

It is every one's duty to watch, but many do not understand this. As a Christian, you are already a watchman appointed to turn sinners to God and also to be your brother's keeper. We are also to keep our hearts with all diligence. Nevertheless, we must acknowledge that “except the Lord keep the city, the watchman watcheth but in vain …” ( Psalm 127:1 ).

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Walls without watchmen, a poor defence to a city.

By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi

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