19 Remember me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people. (Nehemiah 5:19)
Thoughts: Nehemiah gave himself fully to the Lord. He sacrificed his own money for the good of the people. His faith shows in that He is convinced God sees what Nehemiah has done. He leaves his reputation in God's hands, and leaves his blessing in God's hands. In the end, we all give to the Lord in thanksgiving to Him, for His cause, and believing He will continue to bless us. Only God, the giver of all of life, is able to bless us ultimately.
Prayer: Lord, remember me with favor, for all I have done for your people. Help me to do more, inspired by you.
Showing posts with label Nehemiah devotional. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nehemiah devotional. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
9/11/13- The Leader who Serves
17 Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. 18 Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people.
Thoughts: Nehemiah played the role of the governor well, but he refused to be paid for it. Nehemiah was well off as the cupbearer for the king. It was a highly paid position,and Nehemiah used his own savings to pay for his way as governor. He was showing sympathy and concern for his people. He did not want to be a burden on them.
A real leader serves more than seek to have the people serve. I am reminded of Mark 10:45- "For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." Nehemiah deserved payment, but he cared more about the calling and work he was doing than his own reputation. I disagreed with so much of what Jimmy Carter did policy-wise as president. But he did seek to serve the people more than be served. He sought to save money in travelling, and was very conscious to not be a burden. It has been thirty years, but I still remember and admire that about President Carter as well as his great work for Habitat for Humanity. Service to others can even cover over bad policy decisions.
Prayer: Lord, help me to serve you and your people rather than seeking my own good.
Jimmy Carter walking to his own inauguration to show sympathy and service to the people.
Thoughts: Nehemiah played the role of the governor well, but he refused to be paid for it. Nehemiah was well off as the cupbearer for the king. It was a highly paid position,and Nehemiah used his own savings to pay for his way as governor. He was showing sympathy and concern for his people. He did not want to be a burden on them.
A real leader serves more than seek to have the people serve. I am reminded of Mark 10:45- "For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." Nehemiah deserved payment, but he cared more about the calling and work he was doing than his own reputation. I disagreed with so much of what Jimmy Carter did policy-wise as president. But he did seek to serve the people more than be served. He sought to save money in travelling, and was very conscious to not be a burden. It has been thirty years, but I still remember and admire that about President Carter as well as his great work for Habitat for Humanity. Service to others can even cover over bad policy decisions.
Prayer: Lord, help me to serve you and your people rather than seeking my own good.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
9/6/13- The Poor People or the Project
Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. 2 Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.”
3 Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.”
4 Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. 5 Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.”
Thoughts: There was a famine and some mortgaged everything they had in order to get food- including their own freedom. What would make you give up your freedom and your possessions? Some might argue if you can't eat what good is freedom? It was a crisis, for what good was a wall if no one was free behind it? What good was a wall with no one alive behind it? How could people muster the energy to build if there was not enough food to eat?
Nehemiah did not ignore the physical needs of his people. He did not say we must pray and forget our pain. Rather, he listened and he acted in order to bring about fairness. In any building project, the regular pains of life will go on- heartache, hunger, heaviness of life. Nehemiah did not ignore the problems, but he listened and responded. We too need to remember that the people are more important than the project.
Nehemiah did not ignore the physical needs of his people. He did not say we must pray and forget our pain. Rather, he listened and he acted in order to bring about fairness. In any building project, the regular pains of life will go on- heartache, hunger, heaviness of life. Nehemiah did not ignore the problems, but he listened and responded. We too need to remember that the people are more important than the project.
Prayer: Lord, give me a heart of compassion for the needy. Give me an ear that listens and a hands that respond.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
9/4/13- Sword and Trowel
16 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other,18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.
19 Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!” (Nehemiah 4:16-20)
Thoughts: The work was slowed by the threats, but Nehemiah made sure the work did not stop. Half of the soldiers he brought with him worked on the wall. Half of the soldiers he brought were ready for war, and the officers posted themselves to make sure that the people could be organized for battle quickly. The motto: "Be Prepared" would work here. They were prepared for battle, but they continued to do the work.
What an image- to have a sword in one hand and a trowel in the other. Years ago C.H. Spurgeon wrote a weekly magazine called "Sword and Trowel" that encouraged fighting against sin and laboring for the Lord. We do not need to just fight sin so that we quit the work of God to build up the kingdom. Nor do we need to just seek to build and not care about sin and its poison at all. However, in this passage both were defensive weapons. The sword was not used to go out fight offensively against the enemies. But the sword was ready when the people were attacked. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God (Eph. 6:17). The trowel was used to build up a defensive wall so that hell itself could not stand win against the gates of God. So we are called to build up the kingdom but also defend it against those who would tear it down. In our day there is a tendency to think we can just do one or the other- but both are necessary.
What an image- to have a sword in one hand and a trowel in the other. Years ago C.H. Spurgeon wrote a weekly magazine called "Sword and Trowel" that encouraged fighting against sin and laboring for the Lord. We do not need to just fight sin so that we quit the work of God to build up the kingdom. Nor do we need to just seek to build and not care about sin and its poison at all. However, in this passage both were defensive weapons. The sword was not used to go out fight offensively against the enemies. But the sword was ready when the people were attacked. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God (Eph. 6:17). The trowel was used to build up a defensive wall so that hell itself could not stand win against the gates of God. So we are called to build up the kingdom but also defend it against those who would tear it down. In our day there is a tendency to think we can just do one or the other- but both are necessary.
Prayer: Lord, let me labor for you and also combat the sin that would deter me from doing your work.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
8/19/13- Opposition Begins
10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites. (Nehemiah 2:10)
Thoughts: Why would anyone really object to Nehemiah's trying to protect his own people? Believers should have a right to be safe and defend themselves. This is true today too. This past week 70 Christian churches were burned in Egypt. Persecution of believers in Christ occurs- simply for believing in Him and wanting/inviting others to follow Him as well. Last year about 160,000 died worldwide for faith in Christ. In the instance recorded in Nehemiah opposition came from the desire for total control, and that there be no allegiance but to their government.
Sanballat was the Persian governor of Samaria. His opposition probably fanned the flames of prejudice that were present in Jesus' day between Samaritans and Jews. In this book Sanballat opposed Nehemiah time and time again. There is archaeological evidence of Sanballat's existence (Elephantine papyrus). Tobiah was probably a worship of Yahweh and was governor of Transjordan (East Jordan). Their opposition was probably an effort to preserve more of their political influence. A weak Jerusalem meant more power, influence, and money for the territories/satraps around them.
From another angle, whenever something really good is attempted, we should expect opposition. We see this from the Bible (Jesus' ministry is a prime example of gentle goodness being opposed), and from history. Nehemiah was determined and would not let criticism or opposition stop his resolve to serve God and His people. When we know that what we are doing is right, and is clearly in God's will- having tested it with scripture and godly counsel, then we should not let opposition discourage or surprise us.
Prayer: Lord, let me do your will, even in the face of difficulty, criticism and opposition.
Thoughts: Why would anyone really object to Nehemiah's trying to protect his own people? Believers should have a right to be safe and defend themselves. This is true today too. This past week 70 Christian churches were burned in Egypt. Persecution of believers in Christ occurs- simply for believing in Him and wanting/inviting others to follow Him as well. Last year about 160,000 died worldwide for faith in Christ. In the instance recorded in Nehemiah opposition came from the desire for total control, and that there be no allegiance but to their government.
Sanballat was the Persian governor of Samaria. His opposition probably fanned the flames of prejudice that were present in Jesus' day between Samaritans and Jews. In this book Sanballat opposed Nehemiah time and time again. There is archaeological evidence of Sanballat's existence (Elephantine papyrus). Tobiah was probably a worship of Yahweh and was governor of Transjordan (East Jordan). Their opposition was probably an effort to preserve more of their political influence. A weak Jerusalem meant more power, influence, and money for the territories/satraps around them.
From another angle, whenever something really good is attempted, we should expect opposition. We see this from the Bible (Jesus' ministry is a prime example of gentle goodness being opposed), and from history. Nehemiah was determined and would not let criticism or opposition stop his resolve to serve God and His people. When we know that what we are doing is right, and is clearly in God's will- having tested it with scripture and godly counsel, then we should not let opposition discourage or surprise us.
Prayer: Lord, let me do your will, even in the face of difficulty, criticism and opposition.
Monday, August 12, 2013
8/13/13- We Have Sinned
4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said:
“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
Thoughts: Nehemiah was confessing not only his own sins, but the sins of his people. In some ways, the corporate sins of our people are our own sins, and affect us more than we understand. In an individualistic culture we have the idea that we only pay for our own sins. But even a cursory observation tells us we inherit many problems before we were even born. While we make many of our own problems and sins for sure, we also struggle against sins that are beyond our control- for example a frivolous war, or a boss's bad decision that shuts our company down. Nehemiah (also see Daniel 9:5) recognized that he wishes to ask God's forgiveness for his people as a whole. We too should recognize the corporate sin that tends to trap us.
This prayer begins by praising God for His greatness and faithfulness, and asking God to listen as He prays for His people. Then he focuses on confession. Confession is always that we have not listened or obeyed. This means it is possible that God communicates His Word to be heard and heeded. It also means that it is possible to obey but we have rebelled against God. If the Word of God is true, then we need to confess our sins and ask God to forgive us. Corporate confession is important.
Prayer: Forgive us, Lord. Help us who have wandered away. Draw us back to you, O Lord. Build us up into a people who will please, honor, and glorify you.
(Nehemiah praying)
Thoughts: Nehemiah was confessing not only his own sins, but the sins of his people. In some ways, the corporate sins of our people are our own sins, and affect us more than we understand. In an individualistic culture we have the idea that we only pay for our own sins. But even a cursory observation tells us we inherit many problems before we were even born. While we make many of our own problems and sins for sure, we also struggle against sins that are beyond our control- for example a frivolous war, or a boss's bad decision that shuts our company down. Nehemiah (also see Daniel 9:5) recognized that he wishes to ask God's forgiveness for his people as a whole. We too should recognize the corporate sin that tends to trap us.
This prayer begins by praising God for His greatness and faithfulness, and asking God to listen as He prays for His people. Then he focuses on confession. Confession is always that we have not listened or obeyed. This means it is possible that God communicates His Word to be heard and heeded. It also means that it is possible to obey but we have rebelled against God. If the Word of God is true, then we need to confess our sins and ask God to forgive us. Corporate confession is important.
Prayer: Forgive us, Lord. Help us who have wandered away. Draw us back to you, O Lord. Build us up into a people who will please, honor, and glorify you.
(Nehemiah praying)8/12- Moved by the Demise of the Church
4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. (Nehemiah 1:4)
Thoughts: Nehemiah could have been easily indifferent to the demise of the people of God. He, after all, was in the palace of the greatest king of the day. He had one of the most well-paid jobs. He was a cupbearer to the king- which archaeologists tell us was a high and enviable job. Later Nehemiah would make a huge donation to the wall himself. Jerusalem was about 500 miles away- and that was not by airplane or car- about a twenty day journey (by foot and camel).
Instead, Nehemiah sat down and wept. He sat down- probably becoming weak in the knees. It is clear he was not apathetic but loved God, loved God's glory, and loved His church. Clearly the faith was in a fragile place. The people were not safe- with no wall. The glory of God had shrunk through the fall of Jerusalem and her people. He felt the pain deeply. I am reminded of Jesus who felt the pain of the death of a friend- weeping at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35). Sympathy and concern for the church is one of the marks of being a child of God. Just as we would care for our own body when it is hurting or sick, so we should care for the Church of God- the body of Christ to which we belong- when the Church is in a bad place.
I believe the church is in a bad place today in America. While the church world-wide continues to grow, the church in America is shrinking. Last year 4,000 churches closed their doors- only 1,000 were started across America. In just my own denomination (2012 statistics) 86 churches closed and 21 merged; only six were started nationwide.
But Nehemiah did not just weep- he also took a positive step. He knew that he needed God's help, so he prayed. He didn't just say a three second prayer- it was a prayer of fasting, weeping, and earnestly looking to God for help. Apart from God we can do nothing- but with God all things are possible. We will look more at one of Nehemiah's prayers recorded in chapter 1. The first steps in any decision making venture for the believer is illustrated here: 1) ask the right questions; 2) see the real problem; 3) feel the pain of the problem; 4) Pray to God before you start planning and working.
Prayer: Give me a heart for your people and your church, O God. Help us in our time of need- build up your church- your kingdom once more.
Thoughts: Nehemiah could have been easily indifferent to the demise of the people of God. He, after all, was in the palace of the greatest king of the day. He had one of the most well-paid jobs. He was a cupbearer to the king- which archaeologists tell us was a high and enviable job. Later Nehemiah would make a huge donation to the wall himself. Jerusalem was about 500 miles away- and that was not by airplane or car- about a twenty day journey (by foot and camel).
Instead, Nehemiah sat down and wept. He sat down- probably becoming weak in the knees. It is clear he was not apathetic but loved God, loved God's glory, and loved His church. Clearly the faith was in a fragile place. The people were not safe- with no wall. The glory of God had shrunk through the fall of Jerusalem and her people. He felt the pain deeply. I am reminded of Jesus who felt the pain of the death of a friend- weeping at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35). Sympathy and concern for the church is one of the marks of being a child of God. Just as we would care for our own body when it is hurting or sick, so we should care for the Church of God- the body of Christ to which we belong- when the Church is in a bad place.
I believe the church is in a bad place today in America. While the church world-wide continues to grow, the church in America is shrinking. Last year 4,000 churches closed their doors- only 1,000 were started across America. In just my own denomination (2012 statistics) 86 churches closed and 21 merged; only six were started nationwide.
But Nehemiah did not just weep- he also took a positive step. He knew that he needed God's help, so he prayed. He didn't just say a three second prayer- it was a prayer of fasting, weeping, and earnestly looking to God for help. Apart from God we can do nothing- but with God all things are possible. We will look more at one of Nehemiah's prayers recorded in chapter 1. The first steps in any decision making venture for the believer is illustrated here: 1) ask the right questions; 2) see the real problem; 3) feel the pain of the problem; 4) Pray to God before you start planning and working.
Prayer: Give me a heart for your people and your church, O God. Help us in our time of need- build up your church- your kingdom once more.
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