Useful For The Kingdom

 

I must admit that I have a hard time being optimistic about the direction society is going in. It seems that we are turning away from God and that the pace of change seems to be accelerating. I wish that I could do more to advance the cause of Christ.

 

I recently read the book of Nehemiah as part of my daily Bible study. We hardly ever hear anything about Nehemiah but his story really spoke to me. He was the cupbearer to the king of Persia. When he heard that his fellow Jews who returned to Jerusalem were struggling and had not been able to rebuild the walls of the city for protection, he took action. He got permission from the king to return to Jerusalem to lead the rebuilding project, he got the king to provide the materials, and he oversaw the project through to its completion. He later helped lead a revival when his people began to backslide in their commitment to following God’s law.  

 

I found several lessons in Nehemiah’s story that applied to my life today. You may find them helpful as well. I think they are true regardless of whether you are called to do a mighty work or just to have an impact on your little corner of the world.

 

1. Your life is a witness. Nehemiah’s faithful service to King Artaxerxes earned the king’s favor and resulted in the king allowing him to return to Jerusalem and providing whatever he needed for the task ahead. People see how you live day-to-day and that affects how they respond to you.

2. Be compassionate. When Nehemiah heard about the situation in Jerusalem, he “…..wept…..mourned and fasted and prayed before God” (Nehemiah 1:4). We are bombarded with stories of suffering and Godlessness until we can feel numb. May God bless us with caring hearts.

3. Be passionate. Nehemiah’s compassion led him to action. He approached his task with intensity and dogged determination. Be wholehearted in whatever you do. Don’t be lukewarm.

4. Be sacrificial. Nehemiah was willing to leave his position in the king’s court to undertake a dangerous journey and a difficult task under harsh conditions. Don’t shirk doing what you’re called to do because it may be inconvenient.

5. Pray first. Nehemiah wasn’t a priest or other religious leader, but he consistently prayed to God about whatever he was planning or doing because he knew that he was doing God’s work. We should do the same.

6. Expect opposition. Nehemiah faced severe opposition from the non-Jews living around Jerusalem. He was steadfast in his work, not letting anyone deter him from his task. The more useful we are, the more Satan will try to derail our efforts.

7. “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Nehemiah encouraged the people with these words. Let the joy of the Spirit fill you as you minister. It will bless you and it may be a greater witness to others than the work you do.

 

Read Nehemiah and be inspired by his life!

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The individual posts in this blog have been collected into a book, Reflections From the Basic Truths Blog.  It is available for free as an E-book through Barnes and Noble, https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reflections-from-the-basic-truths-blog-james-yarmchuk/1147055811?ean=2940181202702, Apple Books, and multiple other book websites. It is available for a minimal charge on Amazon and can also be purchased as a paperback through them.