I love the book of Nehemiah! It is an incredible story full of everyday life applications for us. I had the honor of having breakfast and Bible study with Ben this week and we were talking about it and I got so excited that I wanted to type it out on my blog.
Chapters 1 and 2 set the scene for what is going on with this rebuilding of the wall....if you haven't read it....please do! It is wonderful! We'll start in Chapter 3. For me, there are some key verses that really speak to me. I'll share them with you.
v5 - It says that "the Tekoites repaired but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord."
Have you ever saw people that wanted to work for the Lord but when you offered them a job it wasn't exactly what they had in mind and they refused it?......their "necks" were stiff....it is almost if we can picture them in our minds that they just thought they were to good to build. Wasn't there a "loftier" job to do?....wasn't there something a little less "dirty", or a little less "physical labor"? Those who really want to serve the Lord are willing to serve wherever he puts them.
v27 - This is AWESOME!.....Remember the Tekoites in verse 5 we just mentioned? Well, here they are again. v27 "After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel." WOW! These Tekoites didn't let the lack of participation from their nobles discourage them or rob them of a blessing...instead of complaining that they had extra work to do because the nobles wouldn't work....they volunteered for another section of the wall! That's what I'm talking about!!! lol!....Don't worry about what others aren't doing!! .....Just do what you can for the Lord and do it with all your might and with JOY!
v12 - I love this verse because it is a picture of our family. "And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters" Praise the Lord....this father was working side by side with his girls for the Lord! Doug and Hannah are taking their first mission's trip next month to Jamaica. They will be laboring together for the Lord! God values women! In Bible days the culture did not value women but God saw fit to put this verse in to let us know he does! Thank you Jesus....how kind you are!
This is getting lengthy....so let's skip on over to chapter 6 verse 3. Nehemiah has encountered opposition and is having to build with one hand and hold a sword with the other....sleep in his clothes, and be on guard all the time because of the threat of war from his enemies and they are trying to schedule a meeting with him in chapter 6. I love verse 3.....his response.."And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?" ....O.k., that makes me laugh! I love it!!! What an example Nehemiah is! Here are just a few of the things that apply to my life from that .....
As a mom, the wall I'm building is the rearing of my children. As much as the world calls me to let Hannah play on a traveling team for softball, or soccer, I refuse to come down from the wall. The work of nurturing her in God's house on the weekends and hearing the preaching of God's word from her paw paw is a GREAT work....I will not come down. No matter how many kids are working jobs at places that require them to work weekends....I will NOT come down off the wall and allow Hope to do so. I am teaching her that God is more important than materialism. It is a great work.
As a wife, I am building the wall of a godly strong marriage. I will not lie to my husband, disrespect him, buy things behind his back, choose girlfriends over him,.....I will not come down from building that wall......I choose the more important thing....the GREAT work of a godly marriage and a happy home.
What's your wall? Are you staying at your post....even if it means fighting the devil with one hand while you build with the other? Don't come down. The work is to important! One day v15 of chapter 6 will apply to us. I want that to be a day that God says Well done!.....don't you?
No comments:
Post a Comment