Nehemiah 10

“Now the rest of the people—the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Nethinim, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone who had knowledge and understanding—these joined with their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse and an oath to walk in God’s Law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes:” Nehemiah 10:28-29 (NKJV)

Before Israel rebuilt the actual walls of Jerusalem, they had to rebuild the “spiritual” walls of Jerusalem by seeking God’s Word and praying. Then, before houses could be built within the walls of Jerusalem, the “homes” of Jerusalem had to be established through knowledge of God’s Word and personal & national confession. In today’s chapter, those “homes” are further distinguished by separation from “the peoples of the land” and toward “the Torah of God.” They were to be a nation in the World but distinguished from it.

We live in a day and age where tolerance and political correctness seem to rule the day. This generation of “Millennials” (18-30 years old) is characterized by a strong distrust of institutions and absolutes. So, it is hard for me to envision such a “separation,” as today’s passage describes, taking place in our culture, yet Jesus commands us to be “in the World but not of the World.” He even prayed to the Father about such an arrangement.  

“I have given them Your Word, and the world hated them because they do not belong to the World – just as I Myself do not belong to the World. I don’t ask You to take them out of the World, but to protect them from the Evil One. They do not belong to the World, just as I do not belong to the World. Set them apart for holiness by means of the Truth – Your Word is Truth. Just as You sent Me into the World, I have sent them into the World. On their behalf I am setting Myself apart for holiness, so that they too may be set apart for holiness by means of the Truth.” John 17:14-19 (CJB)

In a culture that seeks to be liked by everyone, I am reminded of the old saying: If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. More than simply standing for “something,” believers are standing on God’s Word, the very thing that distinguishes/separates them from the World. But if you fear being disliked or rejected because of your pursuit of holiness, consider Jesus’ words.

“If the World hates you, understand that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the World, the World would have loved its own. But because you do not belong to the World – on the contrary, I have picked you out of the World – therefore the World hates you. Remember what I told you, ‘A slave is no greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you too; if they kept My Word, they will keep yours too.’” John 15:18-20 (CJB)

Holiness has a price, but the rewards are worth it!