If you had something very special you wanted to do, to accomplish, to be a success at, what would have to be the first, the most important thing about you for you to get it to work, to accomplish this special goal? It would be the willingness to get up and go, the willingness to get up and do it, the willingness to work at it without giving up or quitting.
We have a great example of this with Judea in the Old Testament when God allowed Nehemiah to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall around that city. The wall had been destroyed by the Babylonians and never worked on or restored in any way, Nehemiah wanted to change that and God sent him there to do just that. But, did he get it done, did it happen. The answer is yes! Nehemiah got the people’s attention, helped them see the vital work that needed to be done and the people stood with Nehemiah to build that wall. And, it did come together, it did happen, why? Nehemiah tells us in Nehemiah 4:6 where we are told, “So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.” Now, why did it happen, because the people “had a mind to work” But, it did not stop here with this. When the people around Jerusalem saw what was happening, they didn’t like it and did everything they could to get it stopped. Even to the point of threatening to attack and fight the people if they didn’t stop. How did they respond to this? Look at Nehemiah 4:17-18 where it tells us, “Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon. As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me.” Now, did they stop building, no! But, they worked with one hand while they held a weapon in the other hand or had their sword on them. They essentially said, if you want to attack us, bring it on, we’re ready but, we will not stop building on the wall!
Brethren, this beautifully describes true determination, a true desire to accomplish. Now, apply this attitude to us right now, today. What if everyone of us had this attitude towards “building” the Lord’s church wherever it is we happen to be? What if this was our attitude when discussing things of God, things of Christ with those around us? What if this was how determined we were to never miss a single service of the Lord’s church? What if this was our attitude in the example we set for our family and our brothers and sisters in Christ? What it comes down to is this, everyone of us matters! Everyone of us is important to the Lord and to the church! It matters what we do and, it matters HOW we do it! May we all strive towards having the attitude of Nehemiah and those in Jerusalem at that time in our own lives today.
And, I want to thank a good friend and brother, Troy Rogers who works with the church in Lawton, for the basic thoughts for this article.
Until next week, I love you all,
Dan
We have a great example of this with Judea in the Old Testament when God allowed Nehemiah to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall around that city. The wall had been destroyed by the Babylonians and never worked on or restored in any way, Nehemiah wanted to change that and God sent him there to do just that. But, did he get it done, did it happen. The answer is yes! Nehemiah got the people’s attention, helped them see the vital work that needed to be done and the people stood with Nehemiah to build that wall. And, it did come together, it did happen, why? Nehemiah tells us in Nehemiah 4:6 where we are told, “So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.” Now, why did it happen, because the people “had a mind to work” But, it did not stop here with this. When the people around Jerusalem saw what was happening, they didn’t like it and did everything they could to get it stopped. Even to the point of threatening to attack and fight the people if they didn’t stop. How did they respond to this? Look at Nehemiah 4:17-18 where it tells us, “Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon. As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me.” Now, did they stop building, no! But, they worked with one hand while they held a weapon in the other hand or had their sword on them. They essentially said, if you want to attack us, bring it on, we’re ready but, we will not stop building on the wall!
Brethren, this beautifully describes true determination, a true desire to accomplish. Now, apply this attitude to us right now, today. What if everyone of us had this attitude towards “building” the Lord’s church wherever it is we happen to be? What if this was our attitude when discussing things of God, things of Christ with those around us? What if this was how determined we were to never miss a single service of the Lord’s church? What if this was our attitude in the example we set for our family and our brothers and sisters in Christ? What it comes down to is this, everyone of us matters! Everyone of us is important to the Lord and to the church! It matters what we do and, it matters HOW we do it! May we all strive towards having the attitude of Nehemiah and those in Jerusalem at that time in our own lives today.
And, I want to thank a good friend and brother, Troy Rogers who works with the church in Lawton, for the basic thoughts for this article.
Until next week, I love you all,
Dan
RSS Feed