Devotion

Theme: Beware of Conspirators

Text:Nehemiah 6:10-14

10 Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was a secret informer; and he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; indeed, at night they will come to kill you.” 11 And I said, “Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!” 12 Then I perceived that God had not sent him at all, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 For this reason he was hired, that I should be afraid and act that way and sin, so that they might have cause for an evil report, that they might reproach me. 14 My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these their works, and the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who would have made me afraid.

Yesterday's devotion enlightened us to avoid distractors and continuing from there, we will look at conspiracy. Many people conspire against others to bring them down. Do you take part in conspiracy? It is sinful before the Lord. The attitude of Shemaiah towards Nehemiah was not good. He knew the consequences of entering into the temple yet he was misleading his fellow brother to do so. Do you sometimes behave like Shemaiah? Change before the wrath of God locate you.

There are conspirators all around you. You need the grace of God to identify such people. Nehemiah paid a visit to Shemaiah little did he know that, he was rather endangering his own life. If you walk with the Lord, He will expose the tricks of your adversaries to you. Nehemiah's response depicted really what Jesus said in Matthew 10:39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. Nehemiah did not consider his life worth protecting as in building the walls. He was ready to die for doing good. If you stand steadfast in the Lord, you'll be victorious at the end and the enterprises of your adversaries will be frustrated. Building a relationship with the Holy Spirit guides you to sense danger when it surfaces.

In all things give thanks to God. The Lord said vengeance is His (Romans 12:19) so you need to hand over your adversaries to the Him. Nehemiah went down again in prayer to commit his enemies to the Lord. Whatever puts fear in you, rise up and hand it to the Lord and victory shall be your.

Prayer: Dear God, give me a discerning spirit to walk uprightly before You. Take control of all that put fear in me and empower me to subdue them all in Jesus name. AMEN!