Nehemiah

August 11

Nehemiah 2:16-20, 3:1-3

Getting stuck in!

Nehemiah’s plan was taking shape. He had gone out to inspect the broken-down wall around Jerusalem. Now he was ready to tell the leaders about his plan.

When they heard his plan to rebuild the wall, they were excited and said, “Let’s start building right away!” But some leaders were not happy about Nehemiah’s plan. First, they laughed at him; then they accused him of rebelling against the king of Persia.

But Nehemiah answered, “The God of heaven will help us. We are His servants, and we are going to build the wall!”

Then Nehemiah divided up the work so that small groups of people and families would each be responsible for building their own part of the wall.

Can anyone be a builder?

What does a person need to become a builder? Do you think someone would need special skills and training?

Well, most of those who were given the task of rebuilding a part of the wall were not trained builders. They were ordinary people doing ordinary jobs. There were priests, perfume makers, goldsmiths, and traders. Even the children helped! The daughters of Shallum and the sons of Hassenaah helped repair their sections of the wall.

Just as the people in Jerusalem had different jobs, we have different talents and gifts. Yet when we serve God, we should also be prepared to help with ordinary tasks. Helping with chairs or tidying up are things we can all do, even though we may be gifted in other ways.

Each person should do his or her part to build up the church. Everyone should work together with the person next to them so that there are no gaps where the enemy can break through.

Verse for today  

In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. Ephesians 2:21