I just finished the last chapter in the book of Nehemiah. As I
read about his recounting his time as governor of Canaan when the Israelites
were returning from their bondage in Babylon, I was reminded just how much the
people of his day are like the people of my own. While the time and culture was
somewhat different, the people never the less, are the same. Nehemiah struggled
in the face of overwhelming challenges, with the same issue that we face today.
He had to deal with not only his own personal motivation for himself, but he
had the challenge of motivating God’s people to return to the Lord as well and
in doing so, he faced criticism, doubt, distraction and fatigue. In the middle
of all his challenges he had discovered a great weapon and learned to use it on
a regularly basis. His weapon was prayer!
Many of the Bibles most moving prayers
are found in this great book. In them, Nehemiah expresses his dependence on God
and a trust worthy for us to follow. As he trusted God in his situation he was
able to assess his circumstances and the circumstances of God’s people and
expedite them getting them once again working together rebuilding the walls of
their beloved Jerusalem. He also reestablished worship and reminded them of
their past greatness and obedience and the desperate need for repentance.
As
difficulty and opposition developed, Nehemiah encouraged the discouraged and
when some strayed into sin, Nehemiah confronted the problem, rebuked the sin
and called them back to God. Today, we not only are called to minister to a
broken world, but we have the great task of ministering to a broken church that
has gone astray in many ways. Until Christ returns for His beloved bride,
believes will continue to be attacked and their lifestyles be compromised as
they allow sin to run rapid in their life. Until Jesus comes back, there will
always be a need for a prophet to call God’s people back from the distractions
that satan will most assuredly put in their way, just as he did Nehemiah, in
his day.
God’s people must learn to say no to those distractions as Nehemiah
did in Nehemiah 6:3 when he said, “I am carrying on a great project and cannot
go down”…in response to his enemies distraction. He was tempted yes, but he
realized that there was another force at work trying to cause distraction upon
every turn. Still, he did not allow them to cause him to veer off his beaten path. For Nehemiah, his
distractions came from within and without begging his attention elsewhere. Yet,
he stayed the course and through his obedience and much prayer, God was
faithful and gave him favor when needed and wisdom and understanding in dealing
with the Israelites as God, through Nehemiah, called them back into a right
relationship with their God.
Prayer not only allows us communication with God
and is an essential element in our worship, but through faith, it is the power
source for the Christian to live victoriously. Psalms.145:18 says, “the Lord is
near to all those who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.”
Loving on you today,
Bren
No comments:
Post a Comment