S = Nehemiah 2:12-13, 17-19
Then I arose
in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put
into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on
which I rode. I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and
to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down
and its gates that had been destroyed by fire…
Then I said
to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its
gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer
suffer derision.” And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me
for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said,
“Let us rise up and build.” So they
strengthened their hands for the good work. But when Sanballat the Horonite and
Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us
and despised us…”
O = Nehemiah’s didn’t just feel bad about the condition of
Jerusalem, he thought about what to do, then got permission from the king to repair
the wall. After traveling from Persia to Jerusalem he carefully inspected the
wall without outside interference and then cast the vision for the rebuilding
project. In those days the wall of a city was very important to the security
and liberty of the residents. Without a city wall, even their worship in the
rebuilt temple was at the mercy of their hostile neighbors. Also I observe that
they had to “strengthen their hands for the good work.” Good work isn’t usually
easy. It involves investigation, planning, vision, community partnership,
commitment, skill, vigilance, and endurance. There will often be rubble and
rubbish from past failures that needs to be cleared away. There will also be seasons
opposition by those who hate the people and purposes of God. Adverse
circumstances are no indicator of God’s will. Nehemiah enjoyed both good and
bad circumstances in this same project to which he was called.
A = What is it that troubles my heart (in a good way) to want
to make a difference? What project is it that the Lord is calling me to do?
Where are the Lord’s people being shamed and oppressed? Where are my brothers
and sisters feeling insecure, defeated, and discouraged? Perhaps that answer to
all these questions is the same. How can I partner with others to better
represent the love and truth of God to the world? I need this be a week of
investigation and revelation!
P = O Lord, you know what needs to be done to make the world
more like it should be. You also know that it is completely outside my strength
and ability to even make a dent in the task. I thank you that you do not call
us to a life of futility, but give us the power (by the Word and the Holy
Spirit) to faithfully do what you have asked. May I trust in your leading and
empowering presence this week, and may you be glorified as a result. Help me to
clean and build plumb in every area of my life today. Amen.
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