Depth of Dedication

"Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the sons of Israel assembled with fasting, in sackcloth and with dirt on them (E.s.v. says earth on their heads.) The descendants of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. While they stood in their place, they read from the book of the law of the Lord their God for a fourth of the day; and for another fourth the confessed and worshiped the Lord their God." -Nehemiah 9:1-3

First of all this is amazing that all of Israel gathered fasting, and dirty. Imagine Americans going to church dirty, none the less fasting. Next lets clarify a fourth of the day is six hours. So for six hours they read God's word, when was the last time we read God's word for a half hour? Then for another six hours they confessed their sins and worshiped God. That is depth of dedication.

What does this mean for our worship?

I'm not saying we need to get together dirty on Sunday and spend twelve hours in this fashion. But imagine what would happen to America if all the Christians spent a day like Israel did here. Imagine what would happen if just one church did this, can you visualize God moving? All this aside, we tend to lack in the depth of our dedication. We small times to God, which is good, yes, very good. But our lives and world would be changed if were had this kind of depth, an entire nation fasting and worshiping God, confessing their sins... You know God is listening. I encourage you to take a deep step, into dedication to God, out of his love and sacrifice for us. His step was deeper than any we can take. How great his depth of dedication.