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Scripture
Nehemiah 8:11-12 (NIV) 11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve." 12 Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.

Observation
What an amazing picture of a large group gathering of God's people that sounds incredibly similar to our worship services today! First, the people were gathered to hear the Word of God. They had to receive the message intellectually. As Paul said in Romans 12:2, we are transformed by the "renewing of our minds." Once they understood what God's Word said, they had a very emotional reaction. Their initial reaction was to weep and to grieve over their disobedience to God's commands. When our actions do not align to God's commands that is the response we should have. It should disturb us deeply when we understand that our lives do not align to God's standards. But that emotion was turned to joy as the people were instructed not to grieve, "for the joy of the Lord is your strength." How do we find the ability to make the changes necessary to align our lives back to God's standards once we know change is required? That strength comes from God, imparted to us through joy, through worship. How do we respond to conviction? By worshipping and praising God who loves us enough to teach us, correct us, and train us in the right ways of living.. and then gives us the strength to do it!

So the people encountered God intellectually, then emotionally, but it did not stop there! Nehemiah told them to "Go and enjoy...", but then to "Send some to those who have nothing prepared." This was the poor. They were to enjoy the blessings God had given them, but not be so focused on themselves that they forgot to serve "the least of these." True understanding, conviction, and worship leads to a natural response of going and serving. James says faith without a response to that faith is dead. Our worship is to be a launching pad to live and to do all that God has taught us and has purposed for us.

Application
Do we really understand why we do what we do on Sunday? Has it become such a ritual that we just show up, soak up, but when challenged by the Word we give up? Makes me want to throw up! That's not the way it's supposed to be! I need to really look at my role in this process. When I am preparing for a message, do I have this response myself first? Does God's Word burn with such conviction in me that my initial response is to weep with remorse over my own shortcomings? Does that remorse turn to joy as I worship God in response to what he has shown me? Do I act on what He reveals? If that is not happening in me, how can I expect it to happen in the people who listen to me?

May every opportunity I have to stand before the people from this point forward be prefaced by my own encounter with God such as the people had before Nehemiah. May I then teach with a passion that God can use to cause the same kind of response in all who hear.

Prayer
Lord I can only do this through you. I ask your Holy Spirit to grip me, ruin me, stretch me... make your word alive in me first, then use me to bring that same experience to others.