Tag: devotions

Rebuilding with Nehemiah, Chapter 5, Day 3

Wednesday: Walking Without Fear or Reproach

Text: So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? (Nehemiah 5:9, NIV)

Teach: What were they doing? While it was not illegal or wrong to loan money, charging excessive usury or interest is. It is wrong to gain financially of someone’s need.

WP Neh 5-3 hoarding

Take: Nehemiah was concerned not only with the negative effects of the unfair loan practices were having on the people, but also with the impact their actions was having on those outside watching.

Task: Jesus told his followers they were salt and light and how they lived would either draw people to God or drive them away. As you reflect on the text today, ask God to reveal whether your witness is a light that leads others to him.

WP Neh dev 5-3 light shine

Rebuilding with Nehemiah, Chapter 5, Day 2

Tuesday: What To Do With Anger

WP Neh dev 5-2 angry

Text: When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. 7 I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them. (Nehemiah 5: 6-7, NIV)

Teach: It isn’t wrong to get angry. Jesus saw what was going on in the Temple and in the gospels we find him overturning the money changers tables and kicking everybody out. Paul warns the Ephesians that they are to be angry but not give into sin (Eph. 5:26). Anger at injustice that moves us to action demonstrates our love for God.

WP Neh dev 5-2 pondering

Take: Some translations say that Nehemiah “consulted himself.” As he pondered what was going on and how that made him feel and what he needed to do about it, Nehemiah put his head and heart together and sought God’s solutions to the situation.

Task: Have you been moved by injustice around you? Have you pondered what God would have you do? The building of the wall didn’t create the problems as much as it revealed them. What has God been revealing to you?

WP Neh dev 5-2 revelation

Rebuilding with Nehemiah, Chapter 5, Day 1

Monday: Selfish Attacks from Within
Text: 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.” (Nehemiah 5:1-2, NIV)

Teach: Chapter 4 ended so positively. But now the work has stopped because there is strife and disunity among the people. The building project had been funded by King Artaxerxes, but there were definite money problems for the people. They had been working so hard on the wall that they were unable to do their normal work to be able to provide for their families.

WP Neh dev 5-1

Take: Statistically, over half of marriages end in divorce and most of those are due to issues related to money. I read several articles about credit card debt and the numbers are staggering. In general, it seems we are out of control, driven to accumulate more, and our marriages and families are suffering because of it.

Task: In Luke 12 we find Jesus’ teaching about the Rich Fool who lost his life while trying to build bigger barns. He goes on to speak to his followers about how to find contentment, wrapping it up by telling them, “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (see Luke 12:34)

In your quiet time, ask God to show you where your treasure is, what your treasure is, and how you are caring for it. Check your balance and your control.

WP Neh dev 5-1 treasure

Rebuilding with Nehemiah, Chapter 4, Day 7

Sunday: Lines of Communication

Text: 18 All the builders had a sword belted to their side. The trumpeter stayed with me to sound the alarm.
19 Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, “The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!” (Nehemiah 4:18-20, NLT)

Nehemiah knew the importance of prayer, of remembering, and of being ready. But all those things can be done by individuals.

WP Neh dev 4-7 together

Today’s word reminds us that we are in this together.

We understand Nehemiah’s concern that we, like the workers on the wall, are widely separated from each other. We live in a time when the opportunities for connection abound, but we have never been more alone.

WP Neh dev 4-7 trumpet

Just as the people needed to listen for the blast of the trumpet, we need to listen and come together.

We were created for relationship, with God and others. From one end of the Bible to the other we read that we are to be devoted to one another, and care for one another. The writer of Hebrews even admonishes the believers to not give up meeting together as some were in the habit of doing (see Hebrews 10:25).

We need to take advantage of the opportunities to worship and play, fellowship and study together, so that we will also be ready to do battle for and with one another.

WP Neh dev 4-7 love one another

Rebuilding with Nehemiah, Chapter 4, Day 5

Friday: What to do with the Whiners
Text: 12 The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, “They will come from all directions and attack us!”[e] 13 So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows.
14 Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” (Nehemiah 4:12-14, NLT)

SP Neh 4 frustration wall

They were surrounded. The situation looked and felt grim. And I’m imagining there were many who were feeling hopeless.

So Nehemiah recruited more people to protect the vulnerable spots. And then he called them to remember.

“Remember the great and glorious God who has called you to this task, who has protected you and provided everything you need.”

“And remember why you are doing this. This is no mere exercise in futility. We’re not looking to win a beautification award. No, we are building this wall to protect ourselves and make a better life for our wives and children.”

SP Neh 4 Remember stone

We read the stories in the Old Testament where the people were called to remember what God had done. They rehearsed and reminded themselves regularly. Then when they found themselves in a difficult situation the truth was not a far off concept, but one upon which they could depend.

The same holds true for the writers of the New Testament. Paul was clear on this with the Philippian believers. “It’s no hardship for me to write of these things again,” he told them. He knew the power of remembering what God has done and what he promises to do.

Perhaps you know what it’s like to feel surrounded and hopeless. Remember God. Remember he has called you to the task. Remember he promises to not just give you life, but joy.

WP Neh dev 4-5 thrive

Rebuilding with Nehemiah: Chapter 4, Day 4

Thursday: Prayer and Preparation

Text: 9 But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves. (Nehemiah 4:9, NLT)

WP Neh dev 4-4

They prayed and kept on working.

Prayer does not negate our participation.

No one got up from prayer and said, “Okay, catch you guys later. This one’s on God and I’m going home until he comes through.”

Nope. They prayed and then they guarded the city, day and night.

WP Neh dev 4-4 without ceasing

This is what it means to pray without ceasing, and to join God where he’s working.

Put hands and feet to your prayers. Trust God and keep working.

WP Neh dev 4-4 pray anywhere

Nehemiah Devotions Chapter 4, Day 3

Wednesday: Enthusiastic Workers
Text: 6 At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm. (Nehemiah 4:6, NLT)

Nehemiah prayed and the people worked and the wall was progressing.

What was it that changed?

It certainly wasn’t Sanballat and his cronies.

And it wasn’t God.

I remember learning early on in my faith journey that prayer changes the one who prays.

WP Neh devo4-3

So what did Nehemiah’s prayer accomplish?

The people who were being beaten down by Sanballat’s ridicule and mocking found the courage to get the task done. They learned that God was still in control, that he had a plan, and summoned up the enthusiasm and energy needed to finish the wall.

Feeling a little short on enthusiasm, courage, and energy? Take God at his word and you’ll find what you need to accomplish what he needs you to do.

WP Neh dev 4-3 we change

Nehemiah Devotions Chapter 4, Day 2

Tuesday: Nehemiah’s Prayer
Text: 4 Then I prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! 5 Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of the builders.” (Nehemiah 3:4-5, NLT)

Is it just me, or does this seem like a pretty harsh prayer?

We’re not used to praying like this. We’re used to being more politically correct, nice, and benevolent.

WP Neh devo 4-2 impecatory

It might be helpful for us to realize that the type of prayer we have here is similar to the imprecatory psalms. These psalms vigorously call for the judgment of the enemies of God.

Nehemiah’s major concern is the honor and glory of God and the vindication of his people.

You can find other examples of this type of prayer in Psalms 5, 10, 17, 35, 58, 59, 69, 70, 79, 83, 109, 129, 137, 140.

When I consider the vigorous nature of Nehemiah’s prayers, I wonder how intense my prayers are towards those who dishonor God and wound his people.

PRAYER: O God, move me and motivate me to deeper concern and prayer. Amen.

Nehemiah Devotions, Chapter 4 Day 1

Monday: Sticks and Stones
Text: Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?” (Nehemiah 4:1-3)

WP Neh devo 4-1

You remember the old playground saying: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

Who were we kidding?

Words hurt. Being mocked hurts. Being intimidated hurts. Ridicule can be discouraging, disheartening, and defeating.

SP Neh 4 perm damage of sticks n stones

That’s what the Jewish builders faced. Sanballat felt his power and control slipping away so he resorted name calling and ridicule. Thankfully, Nehemiah was ready and was able to rally the people and keep the work going.

Are you facing ridicule and mocking at work, school, or home?

SP Neh 4 mocking 1

Our enemy knows how to defeat us. He knows how to throw just the right words at us, and his attacks are aimed at our heart with the goal of destroying our faith.

We need to keep our eyes on our leader and Lord.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. (Hebrews 12:1b-2, NIV)

WP Neh devo 4-1 eyes