Through the Bible: Nehemiahنموونە
God Uses Willing Volunteers
Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. The people commended all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.
Nehemiah 11:1- 2 (ESV)
It is an irony that the children of Israel spent months amid hostile enemies to rebuild the walls and the city Jerusalem, had no desire to live in Jerusalem. As a result, Jerusalem was like a ghost town – no one to protect the wall and the city, no one to work in the temple, and no one to man the gates.
Many of the Israelites did not want to move and live in the city because it would require them to uproot the family and re-establish their livelihood. Besides the stigma of being a Jew amongst a non-Jewish community, there is also the high expectation of obedience to God’s Laws. That's sacrifice and pressure to stay on their toes!
The same situation applies to the church today. God is looking for willing volunteers to serve in His Kingdom on earth. If we truly love God, we are to serve God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength (Mark 12: 30). Our serving should not be just occasional or when it is convenient but should be a lifestyle driven by our love for God.
Prayer
Our Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word spoken through Nehemiah. Lord, give us a heart like the heart of Jesus; a heart more ready to serve than be served. Help us to open our eyes to see the needs of the people around us. Guide us each day and help us to remain as Your faithful servant. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Scripture
About this Plan
Following Zerubbabel and Ezra, Nehemiah’s rebuilding of the city wall in Jerusalem is the last part of the trio. These leaders helped the Jews withstand all opposition and restore their identity as a nation. The two volumes of Ezra-Nehemiah send a strong message to us: God is faithful to the covenant with His people. We might go astray, but God will always bring us back to the Promised Land.
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