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 3 DAY 2: GOD’S RESTORATION
The Passage: Nehemiah 3:1 The Point: God provides a way of restoration. Eliashib and his brothers were responding to Nehemiah’s exhortation to “Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem…” (Neh. 2:17). They put their backs and hands to work, fully trusting in the success God alone would give them (Neh. 2:20). The rebuilding of…
WEEK 3 DAY 1: TEAMWORK
The Passage: Introduction to Nehemiah 3 The Point: We are better together. Andrew Carnegie said, “Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.” This statement embodies what we see occurring in…
WEEK 2 DAY 7: A LEADER THAT CAN TAKE A PUNCH
The Passage: Nehemiah 2:19-20 The Point: Opposition is going to come Let me start this devotional with some heresy (now I’ve your attention). Some believe that God’s will always involves financial and physical well-being. This means that positive speech, faith, and tithing will increase one’s material wealth. This is the “prosperity gospel,” and its plaguing…
WEEK 2 DAY 6: A LEADER THAT SPEAKS
The Passage: Nehemiah 2:17-18 The Point: Speak up! My wife was one of the first girls I met in college. I didn’t fall for her immediately, but over time and as we hung out in our community, I really began to like her. Then in our second semester of college, I stalked her class schedule…
WEEK 2 DAY 5: A LEADER THAT’S SCRAPPY
The Passage: Nehemiah 2:11-16 The Point: A leader always does whatever it takes. The word “scrappy” is one of my favorite words. When I played basketball, being scrappy meant you were more determined, did the little things well, and hustled more ― regardless of your talent. Honestly the word scrappy basically meant, “Hey, that guy…
WEEK 2 DAY 4: A LEADER THAT’S READY
The Passage: Nehemiah 2:6-10 The Point: The importance of making a plan Space Jam might be the best movie ever made. Rotten Tomatoes may disagree, but what do they know? I mean come on! You put the Loony Toons with the best basketball player ever and some giant space monster, and you’ve got an instant…
WEEK 2 DAY 3: A LEADER THAT’S RELIANT
The Passage: Nehemiah 2:4-5 The Point: Two ways to pray I once thought my wife and I were pretty similar. Now? I keep finding more and more ways we are different. One of the main differences is that I’m a Type A personality. This means I like to have my entire life organized in certain…
WEEK 2 DAY 2: A LEADER THAT’S RESPECTFUL
The Passage: Nehemiah 2:3. Additional reading Romans 13 The Point: Respect God’s authority. Today’s devotional is a one-off. It’s really easy to skip over the first part of Nehemiah 2:3 because so many interesting things are going on in the text. Instead, let’s take some time to contemplate the way Nehemiah approached the king. Here…
WEEK 2 DAY 1: A LEADER THAT’S SCARED
The Passage: Nehemiah 2:1-2 The Point: What is fear doing to you? When I was eight years old, I watched a play called “The Snow Queen,” and it gave me nightmares for months. The story is about a mean queen who shoots a bunch of glass into kids’ eyes and makes them see only the…
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