Nehemiah: God's Invitation to RebuildÀpẹrẹ
Faith in Action
When we follow Jesus, we are not promised life will be easy. Nehemiah encountered opposition, and as New Testament followers of Christ, Jesus tells us we, too, will have difficulty and trouble. Scripture is chock full of people who encountered opposition when following God. They serve as examples and inspiration to encourage us to walk in faith.
Sometimes our opposition comes in the form of a person or people; in Nehemiah’s context, Sanballat and Tobiah. Other times, circumstances discourage us. We know, however, that when we are on mission from God, nothing and no one can stop what he has set out to accomplish. We must encourage ourselves in the Lord and remember our hope is in Jesus and his peace will be with us amidst it all. There is a purpose to everything we encounter and our faith grows deep in the hard things.
Let's be people who, like Nehemiah, set our eyes on God and pray for a mindset to work, even in the face of opposition. Prayer: Father, this life has trouble. Help me to set my eyes on you. -Amen.
Bonus Reading: Daniel 1:8-16; Matthew 14:28-31: Hebrews 1:1-2
Nípa Ìpèsè yìí
Often touted as a “leadership” book, Nehemiah is rich in application. The way Nehemiah led the exiled Israelites in Persia to rebuild and reoccupy Jerusalem was as much an exercise in surrender and supplication as it was leadership and strategy. In this 21-day reading plan, we’ll look to Nehemiah as a role model in prayer, obedience, perseverance, and, yes, leadership.
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