Abram has a call from God to leave his home and travel to another country - so Abram was obedient and went. God can call us at anytime to move in a new direction in our life. This new direction may not always make sense and the end goal may not be known, but we need to be obedient to God's calling. As Abram was obedient to God, God was faithful to Abram in showing and leading him. We need to seek God, wait upon Him and then turn up!

The message for us in this Psalm is that any of us, at anytime, can sin. Even David, appointed by God, took advantage of his position as king and treats God with utter contempt when he sins against Him. David allowed himself to be controlled by his earthly desires and not the will of God. David lived under the the old covenant with God. We now live under the new covenant and our sins have been cleaned because of the sacrifice that Jesus Christ did on the cross. When we accept Jesus to be a part of our life, then it is Him that makes us pure through the Holy Spirit that dwells within us and allows us to be a living example to others around us.

King Herod felt threatened on the news of the birth of Jesus, King of the Jews, and tried to have him killed. Herod was a man soaked in earthly power, who was abusive and destructive to others. In total contrast, Jesus was a king that would rule, not by might and force, but bring comfort and hope to others, and ultimately would give himself up so that others may live. Who is going to be king this Christmas for you? Is it going to be about self or is it going to be about the true king, Jesus Christ, who will reign in lives?

Before the work began on rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah inspired the people, he assured them that it was God who was at work, when the people were afraid he prayed that God would strengthen them, when they were threatened Nehemiah stood his ground. The building of the walls are complete and the gates are fixed in place. Nehemiah appointed two men to assist him in now leading to protect the people. These men were chosen for their integrity and for their fear of God. They were men who wanted to put God first. Other people were appointed as gatekeepers and guards to watch and protect the people from intruders. The message for us as Christians today is, that if we don't protect what God has accomplished in our life, then the enemy will come in and take it over. If we truly fear God then we will be faithful to the work he has called us to.

In this chapter we see that the people are not fighting an external enemy but an enemy within - selfishness. Wealthy people were exploiting the poor in complete contradiction to their own law. God has a special concern for the poor, a concern we are also to have. Nehemiah's immediate response was one of anger but then he ponders the situation. He rebukes those who were taking advantage of the poor and disobeying God. Israel was to be an example to other nations but their witness of Jews selling other Jews into slavery was giving the wrong message. Nehemiah leads by example, not out of favour of people but for the favour of God. We need to be looking to the interest of others, not just ourselves. To do this we need to rely on Jesus and not try to do this in our own strength. How can we further God's kingdom if we are so wrapped up in our own selfish ways. Who's kingdom are you building? Who are you seeking first?