Built To Last – Week 1 – Built by the Word: When God Speaks, We Rearrange.
When God Speaks, We Rearrange
Have you ever had a moment when something so clear and powerful was said, it changed the way you
lived? In Nehemiah 8, we see a scene where God speaks through His Word, and the people don’t just listen
—they rearrange. They respond. They move. That’s what God’s Word is meant to do in us.
After rebuilding the wall, the people were safe. But more than walls, they needed direction. And so they
asked Ezra to bring the Book of the Law. They didn’t wait for a leader to make a call—they wanted God’s
Word. Why? Because they had seen God’s faithfulness in action, and now they craved His truth. They stood,
they wept, they worshiped, and they obeyed.
This passage reminds us of three powerful truths:
1. When God speaks, we don’t just listen—we rearrange.
They stood in reverence. They didn’t casually
scroll by Scripture. They made space for the Word and responded. In a first-world context, needs often look
like emotional struggles more than physical ones. But whether it’s loneliness, anxiety, or a hunger for
purpose, when people see the care of God’s people, their hearts open to God’s truth. Compassion opens the
door to transformation.
2. Grief is a right response to sin, but grace is where it should lead us.
When the people heard God’s
law, they wept. They saw their sin. But Ezra and Nehemiah didn’t let them stay there. They reminded them:
the joy of the Lord is your strength. We grieve, yes. But we don’t grieve without hope. The Word confronts us,
but grace lifts us.
3. God’s Word is not a burden to embrace, but a joy to execute.
When they discovered they should
celebrate the Feast of Booths, they didn’t argue—they acted. And there was great rejoicing. Obedience isn’t
drudgery; it’s alignment. It’s stepping into the rhythms of grace. If God’s Word feels burdensome, maybe it’s
because we’ve added rules God never asked for. But true obedience flows from a heart captivated by grace.
At BCC, we stand upon the truth of God’s Word. Not just to believe it—but to build with it. That’s why it’s one
of our core values. And we want to give you the tools to put it into practice.
This week, check out the Holy Habits study on RightNow Media. It’s a short 4-part video series on shaping
your life around Scripture, rest, reconciliation, and sharing good news. Whether at the dinner table, in your
small group, or during your morning routine, let’s realign our lives with the joy of God’s Word.
Let’s be a church not just with Bibles, but built by them.