Saturday June 29, 2013 Restart: Stepping Out in Faith Nehemiah 5:16-19 16 Indeed, I also continued the work on this wall, and we did not buy any land. All my servants were gathered there for the work. 17 And at my table were one hundred and fifty Jews and rulers, besides those who came to us from the nations around us. 18 Now that which was prepared daily was one ox and six choice sheep. Also fowl were prepared for me, and once every ten days an abundance of all kinds of wine. Yet in spite of this I did not demand the governor’s provisions, because the bondage was heavy on this people. 19 Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people. LEADING BY EXAMPLE Nehemiah worked alongside the people as the wall was being built. Not only did he refuse to benefit from the allowances given to him as governor, but he also did not use any loopholes to purchase property. His goal was to complete the wall, and he kept that task in the forefront of his mind. The people who worked for him saw his steadfastness and emulated him. As Nehemiah prays, he asks God to remember the good that he has done and to bless him for it. Our knowledge of and our ability to explain God’s Word matters little to the world that watches us. What truly matters is how we live our lives. Are we generous? Honest? Compassionate? Humble? Do our lives represent a page of Scripture? Nehemiah’s respect for God’s laws would not allow him to request his rightful food allowance and burden the people with that cost. How could business leaders adopt Nehemiah’s approach? Find innovative ways to curtail business or personal expenses. Donate the money saved to a church or charitable organization. Pray: Lord, make me a blessing to someone today. Sunday June 30, 2013 Restart: Stepping Out in Faith Nehemiah 6:1-4 1 Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), 2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they thought to do me harm. 3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” 4 But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner. FOILING THE ENEMY’S TACTICS If you think temptation will go away simply because you resisted once, think again! Your enemies are not easily deterred and they will come after you using different forms of deception. Sanballat and the others tried four times to ambush and possibly assassinate Nehemiah, but each time he resisted their overtures. Nehemiah tells them that the task God has assigned him to do is far too important to allow distractions to interfere with its work. It was not an excuse, it was the truth. When God calls us to service we should be steadfast and single-minded in our approach to undertaking this work. The enemy is crafty and will stop at nothing to undermine the work of the kingdom. We must be on our guard against anything that would sidetrack us and cause us to wander away from the task at hand. Why do you think the near completion of the wall caused Nehemiah’s enemies to come at him once more? Young people in our community often fall victim to various temptations and addictive behaviors such as underage drinking and smoking. Seek out a civic group that is trying to make a difference in these areas. Volunteer as a mentor or counselor. Pray: Lord, guide our youth as they make decisions that can adversely affect their lives. Give them the wisdom which comes only from you. Monday July 1, 2013 Restart: Stepping Out in Faith Nehemiah 6:5-9 5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written: It is reported among the nations, and Geshem says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel; therefore, according to these rumors, you are rebuilding the wall, that you may be their king. 7 And you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, “There is a king in Judah!” Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together. 8 Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart.” 9 For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.” Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. SEEKING STRENGTH FOR THE TASK It becomes terribly frustrating when you are constantly being dogged by your enemies. In one instance, it is insults. In another, it is petty skirmishe,s and in yet another, it is lies, deceit and intimidation. Many of us would crack under such relentless personal and physical attack. Nehemiah, however, holds fast. God has given him the gift of discernment and he can spot deception a mile away. Nehemiah does not fall for the intimidating tactics of his enemies. He recognizes them for what they are, and as is his practice, goes to God in prayer, appealing to God for strength. Nehemiah needs strength for the physical task of building the wall. What are some other reasons he might need strength? Deceit is pandemic in our society. Speak out against it when it occurs, knowing that God’s power will back you up. Pray: Lord, let me be prudent in my response to those who attack my credibility. Tuesday July 2, 2013 Restart: Stepping Out in Faith Nehemiah 6:10-13 10 Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was a secret informer; and he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; indeed, at night they will come to kill you.” 11 And I said, “Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!” 12 Then I perceived that God had not sent him at all, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 For this reason he was hired, that I should be afraid and act that way and sin, so that they might have cause for an evil report, that they might reproach me. DISCERNING DECEIT Nehemiah is offered a plan of escape from his enemies, but it involves hiding in the most sacred place in the temple, a place where only the high priest was allowed to enter on special ceremonial days. While the plan seemed innocent enough, God revealed its treachery. God had protected Nehemiah so far, so there was no reason he should cower and hide from the enemy. Besides, doing the wrong thing even to achieve a good purpose is sin. God’s people should never be willfully caught up in illicit behavior. We can trust God to keep his promises—they have no expiration date. They are good forever! We can be confident when we are told in God’s Word, “The Lord will keep you safe from secret traps and deadly diseases” (Psalm 91.3). He has promised, and he will do it. Is it ever appropriate to do the wrong thing for the right reason? How did Nehemiah come to the realization that Tobiah and Sanballat were behind the plot to ruin his reputation? Based on the way Nehemiah handled this problem, what are some other character traits you recognize? Emulate him when you find yourself in similar situations. Pray: Teach me, Lord, to discern your will even among the traps that have been set to ensnare me. Wednesday July 3, 2013 Restart: Stepping Out in Faith Nehemiah 6:15-16 15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God. SUCCESS—AGAINST ALL ODDS Sometimes success seems to be protracted. There are physical and spiritual battles to be fought, enemies to be routed and fears to be conquered. Yet, when the people of God put their trust in him, God proves faithful and grants them success in their endeavors. In the midst of ridicule, bitter attacks by the enemy, back-breaking work to clear the rubble and restore the wall of the city, Nehemiah and the people have finally finished the task God put on his heart. Their enemies hurled taunts that insulted their faith, but still the wall builders pressed on. Now, against all odds, the wall was completed—a monumental task accomplished by many with the help of one—God. No one could have imagined that the work could be done, much less in 52 days! It was a God moment. And even their enemies knew it! What lessons are hidden in the fact that we are told that Nehemiah’s enemies “felt helpless”? Re-read Nehemiah 4.14. In what ways can Nehemiah’s rallying charge to the people contribute to our success today? Pray: Lord, remind us that every victory we achieve comes from your gracious hand. Make us grateful and humble as we celebrate our successes.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 00:39:33 +0000
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