DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 30:11-38; Psalm 78:32-72; Acts 18:1-23
Both I and my father’s house have sinned. Nehemiah 1:6
Have you ever been blamed for something you didn’t do? Probably. Did you like it? Probably not. Nehemiah takes this a step further and willingly assumes the responsibility for something he didn’t do. He shouldered the blame, for the sinful state of the Jewish remnant. There was no “second person – you” or “third person – they” blame here. He rose to the occasion of Israel’s sin and confessed his nation’s error. One of the demands of leadership at any level is to take responsibility for the spiritual state of those you lead. Whether you are a Job (Job 1) or a Joshua (Josh. 7), a mature response to error is to take a “first-person” attitude. —Norman Craig Funston
See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin and set me free. —J. E. Orr