READ: Nehemiah 5,6; Psalms 25; Acts 18
SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 6: 8 I
sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are
just making it up out of your head.”
9 They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak
for the work, and it will not be completed.” But I prayed, “Now strengthen my
hands.”
OBSERVATION: The book of
Nehemia is sometimes called “Memoirs of Nehemia,” owing to the first-person
language of the text. Even today, Nehemiah is remembered for his leadership
principles, short prayers, diligence in doing and completing his work, and
trust in God’s strength. When Nehemiah started to rebuild the broken walls of
Jerusalem, the enemies ridiculed the Jews by insulting them and tried to stop
the work by discouraging them (Neh.2:19; 4:2-7). Despite Sanballat and his men
continued their threats and evil schemes against Nehemiah, he continued the
rebuilding work without turning his attention away from it. In Nehemiah 6, we
read some of the tactics Sanballat and his men employed against Nehemiah. They
wanted to kill Nehemiah, turn the king’s wrath against him, and discredit his
leadership. Every time Nehemiah faced Sanballat’s messengers and his evil
schemes, he replied, “Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to
you?” (v.3). When Sanballat sent “an unsealed letter” full of lies, Nehemiah
did not waste his time to disprove the malicious lies of his enemy. He discerned
that the letter was sent to cause fear and demoralize the workers by spreading
wrong information. Nehemiah did not ask the Lord to stop the virulent attack of
the enemy. But he prayed for more strength to face the challenges of his
enemies. Nehemiah’s prayer expressed his heart’s desire to complete his work
instead of running away from his responsibility. Nehemiah trusted God and his
strength; he was steadfast in continuing his work.
What will we do if we face similar
threats, insults, slanders, evil schemes to stop the good work we want to do? Do
running away from our responsibility will solve the crises? In Nehemiah’s time,
he had to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. In our time, our responsibility is
even more since the present situation is more severe than in the time of
Nehemiah. Now we may not see broken walls, but we come across people with
broken hearts and relationships every day. Many people have no hope for their
future and are struggling everywhere. We can ask the Lord to strengthen our
hands to carry out the work he has for us during this time.
APPLICATION: I should not waste
my time responding to unwanted things. Instead, I need to be diligent in
my work and seek God’s strength to overcome the challenges in my life. My
attention and eyes should be on God, not on my enemies. “The Lord is with me; I
will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Ps.56:4; 118:6).
PRAYER: My God, thank you
for answering my prayers and giving me the strength to do and complete my
works. Lord, help me to trust and seek you always. Amen.
- Arputharaj Samuel
+91 9538328573
Day - 207
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