Nehemiah 11:1-2 Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten of them to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. The people commended all who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.
The Israelites kept meticulous records, didn’t they. God has preserved them so we might discern their hearts. These were important matters for them. They were documenting their obedience to God. They wanted to show they had conducted themselves according to the Law of God given to Moses. Are you that meticulous in obeying God?
The Israelites were a people conscious of their roots, their heritage as God’s people. Today, many churches and Christian groups give little attention to the 2,000 years of heritage, or tradition, that we have as a people of God. Rarely do people study the writings of Christians from centuries ago. Many groups will not recite creeds in their fellowships. Creeds like the Apostle’s Creed, the Nicene Creed and others, were used by early Christian groups as teaching tools and prayers. They are instructive to us as reminders of the faithfulness of Christian communities centuries ago to communicate to us our shared Christian beliefs.
The Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and
earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father
Almighty; from there he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of
saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
