WE WILL NOT FORSAKE GOD'S HOUSE

Nehemiah 10:39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.

God's people had spent many years in Babylonian captivity because of their disobedience, rebellion, and idolatry. Forsaking God's law, His worship, His day, and His house had cost them dearly. By the grace and power of God, they were returned to Jerusalem. The destroyed city was being restored, the temple rebuilt, and the battered walls of the city repaired. With their past captivity fresh in their minds, they offered this great resolution: a fresh commitment to faithfulness to God's house. The Bible records their vow of loyalty to the house of God, "we will not forsake the house of our God." Our generation of Christians would do well to make a similar commitment. It is not an exaggeration to say that the house of God is too often being forsaken. One example of this is the great neglect of the place of the New Testament church in the work of God. The extremely popular, yet false belief in a universal and invisible church has caused many professing Christians to forsake the true house of God, which is the local church. I Timothy 3:15 says, "the house of God, which is the church of the living God." The house of God is being forsaken because of the neglect of Bible doctrine concerning the church. Multitudes of those who claim membership in local congregations are also forsaking God's house. They are forsaking God's house by their lack of faithful attendance to the assembly of the saints. Church attendance by some is looked at as a suggestion rather than the command of God. Others are forsaking God's house by their lack of financial support through consistent tithes and offerings. God gave His churches the responsibility to carry out His work in the world, and that work should be financed through the generous and consistent giving of the members. The house of God is being forsaken through the failure of members to use their gifts and abilities to serve in the ministries of the local church. The laborers are few because of those who are forsaking God's house. For the sake of our Savior and His great work, "we will not forsake the house of God."

A devotional thought by Pastor Smith of Mt. Zion Baptist Church