DEVOTIONAL
WEEK 5 DAY 7: SEEKING GOD’S FAVOR
The Passage: Nehemiah 5:19
The Point: God remembers the work we do for Him.
The chapter ends with a prayer that we will see repeated six more times in this book. Nehemiah is asking God to remember him. Does Nehemiah think God is forgetful? No, not at all! Nehemiah has been faithful to God’s calling and plan to rebuild the wall. He is a man of prayer. We have seen the prayers he has already prayed and the ways that God has moved on his behalf. God has not only worked to make it possible for the wall to be rebuilt, He has also worked in the hearts of His people.
Nehemiah’s prayer is not for worldly blessing or fame, but that God will look upon his life and remember the good he had done for the sake of God’s people. In Hebrews 6:10 we see an extension of this idea: “ For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.” Nehemiah’s life work was built around showing love to God’s people and ministering to them.
Our lives can be lived in the same way. Think about Nehemiah’s example. He was a man of vision and prayer, a man of action, a servant leader, a man of perseverance through adversity, an advocate for the oppressed, a good steward, and a spiritual leader to name a few. These are characteristics that are memorable to God. The things we do to love God’s people and minister to them for the sake of making His name great will not be forgotten.
Processing:
- Look back over Nehemiah 5, what were some specific things that Nehemiah did for the people?
- How did Nehemiah’s actions reflect the character of God?
Plan:
- Think about your life, how are you loving and ministering to God’s people?
- What is one way you could love or minister in a way that is a better reflection of God’s character?
- Will your life be remembered for building God’s kingdom or your kingdom?
WEEK 4 DAY 4: FIGHT TO BELIEVE
The Passage: Nehemiah 4:10-14 The Point: We have to fight to believe. Any time you attempt something great, the naysayers will line up to discourage you ― your friends, your family, and even words in your own head. Entrepreneurs know this. There are dozens of books on mindset written for people starting new ventures, in…
WEEK 4 DAY 3: PRAYERS AND PLANS
The Passage: Nehemiah 4:7-9 The Point: Prayer must be accompanied by action. Do you remember how much fun it was to play hide and seek? I remember…since I just played the other day and almost pulled a muscle. One great way to keep from getting chased is to just sit still and stay hidden. However,…
WEEK , DAY 2: WILLING TO WORK
The Passage: Nehemiah 4:6 The Point: We need people who are willing to work. In his first speech to Parliament after being appointed as Prime Minster of Great Britain in the thick of World War II, Winston Churchill gathered himself and said to the anxious nation, “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears,…
WEEK 4 DAY 1: OVERCOMING DISCOURAGEMENT
The Passage: Nehemiah 4:1-6 The Point: What to do with discouragement Have you ever been shot down when you have a great idea? A few examples from my life come readily to mind. Like the time I said, “Hey, honey we should buy a conversion van and drive across country with the kids.” Or this…
WEEK 3 DAY 7: DON’T SETTLE FOR THE STATUS QUO
The Passage: Nehemiah 3. Additional reading: Nehemiah 2:17-18 The Point: Don’t settle for the status quo. What made Nehemiah the right man to lead the rebuilding efforts was a holy dissatisfaction with the status quo. “Status quo” is a Latin term meaning “existing state.” We never use that term in a completely positive way. We…
WEEK 3 DAY 6: FAITH AND DEDICATION
The Passage: Nehemiah 3. Additional reading: Nehemiah 2:20a; 4:6 The Point: God’s work requires faith and dedication. Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem required people, supplies, planning, and leadership. Those items would be far less effective had Nehemiah lacked faith that God would empower them to complete the job. Nehemiah’s faith was infectious. The people saw…
WEEK 3 DAY 5: THE DIVERSITY OF WORKERS
The Passage: Nehemiah 3:6-32 The Point: God uses all kinds of people with all kinds of gifts.The 18th century hymnist, William Cowper, said “Variety’s the spice of life, that gives it all its flavor.” Diversity brings different cultures together. You often hear that Family Church is multicultural — and we praise God that it is!…
WEEK 3 DAY 4: THE TALE OF TWO TEKOITES
The Passage: Nehemiah 3:5, 27 The Point: The motivation to work is obedience. Tekoa was south of Jerusalem. In Nehemiah 3:5 and 3:27, we read how the common Tekoans repair two sections of the wall. What stands out is the fact that Tekoa did not receive protection from the walls they helped rebuild. They were…
WEEK 3 DAY 3: A GOD OF DETAIL
The Passage: Nehemiah 3:3 The Point: God cares about every detail of our lives. We discover this simple account in Nehemiah 3 that highlights the pains Nehemiah took to describe each part of the wall’s reconstruction. The description is repeated five times within the chapter and reminds us that God never misses a single detail…
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