Attentive to the Word!

As a Pastor and even as a layman, I have seen many things when in church. The Word of God is being presented and this is what I see as it is common place now: sleeping, texting, talking, passing notes, reading magazines, eating and drinking, digging for keys, trips to the bathroom, balancing check books, and you can add on to this as you see fit. Folks when the Word of God is presented these things should not be so! So this text below grabbed my attention:



Nehemiah 8:1-3



Ezra Reads the Law



And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.



First, "all the people gathered". Wouldn't it be great to get all the members to church at one time??!!! Even better the whole community to be in church! When the Sabbath is celebrated we need to be in church worshiping!



Second, "as one man". Unity! They were united at this moment to hear from God. The people of God need to united more than ever right now! Satan is slowly eroding away Christianity and as followers of God we must stand and fight together!



Third, they read the word for several hours! What? But grandma had dinner ready! God and His Word is to take first priority. We are to be interested and ready to learn what God has for us. Remember what Jesus said:



Matthew 4:4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”



The Word is life to the believer!



Fourth, "the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law". Hmmmm attentive. All those things I listed above I have seen in church are not attentive. He wants our undivided attention! No multitasking with God! He is God after all and He deserves everything we got! And with our ignorance of the bible these days we need to learn all we can!



So this morning think about you attentiveness to the Word of God both at church and at home. What kind of grade would you get? Make changes if needed and pay attention to the Word of God!



Tom