January 13 – 2022 | David Jeremiah Today Devotional | Thursday Message
Read Previous David Jeremiah Daily Devotional
Topic: The Cost of Commitment
Today’s Scripture: And we made ordinances to bring the firstfruits . . . to the priests, to the storerooms of the house of our God; and to bring the tithes of our land to the Levites, for the Levites should receive the tithes in all our farming communities. – Nehemiah 10:35, 37
Recommended Reading: 1 Corinthians 16:1-2
January 13 – 2022 | David Jeremiah Today Devotional Message
Churches define membership differently. Some have no membership standards at all; attendees who are committed over time simply rise to the level of leadership and responsibility. Other churches have formal membership protocols: interviews and assessments of a potential member’s commitment to being an active and accountable member. However, when churches define formal (or informal) membership, one thing is true of all: Members are expected to participate and support “the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:12). This involves financial support and the investment of spiritual gifts in the building up of the Church.
Something similar happened when the Levites led the community of returned Jews to commit themselves to walking anew in covenant with God. They signed a document that outlined their responsibilities to support the household of God in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 10:30-39).
Commitment and accountability have various prices, but they are never free. Followers of Jesus are advised to count the costs of being His disciple (Luke 14:28-33).
Scars are the price which every believer pays for his loyalty to Christ.
William Hendriksen
Read-Thru-the-Bible: Genesis 42 – 43
January 13 – 2022 | David Jeremiah Today Devotional | Turning Point Message. Turning Point for God was founded in 1982 as the broadcast ministry of Dr. David Jeremiah to deliver the unchanging Word of God to an ever-changing world