Title: Guard Duty/ Topic: Protection

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 11; Nehemiah 12; Psalm 1; Acts 3

Scripture: Nehemiah 12:25
25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates.

Observation: Gatekeepers are mentioned often in the Old Testament. It seems it was an important job. The gatekeepers had to be Levites who were consecrated to God and supported financially by the people. They guarded the gates to the holy city of Jerusalem and they also guarded the entrances to the Temple. Their purpose was to keep out enemies and to guard the tithes and offerings collected as a part of worship. The guards at the Temple were also to protect it from enemies who would want to come in and disrupt or destroy worship there.

Application: We need "guards" at the doors of our churches today too. Our churches are open to unbelievers, but with that openness comes the danger of letting in people who are not seekers but whose intention is to destroy or disrupt the effectiveness and worship of the church. People who are worshipping the devil or who are unwittingly being used by him and who hate the church can come in openly and sow division and confusion. Who are the gatekeepers of our churches today? The leadership has this responsibility (all leadership, not just the pastor) but our churches would be much better off if all believers had their spiritual antennaes tuned in to discern for anything that might be amiss in someone coming in to church. Certainly, we should all at least cover the church in prayer.

Prayer: Father, give us all discerning spirits and wisdom. Remind us to pray for protection for our churches and to guard the unity of the Body zealously.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.