Monday, September 26, 2022

REBUILDING THE LIVES OF OTHERS

And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”

So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Nehemiah 1:3-4

How can we leave this topic of rebuilding without discussing Nehemiah? Nehemiah has been taken away from Jerusalem, serving as the king’s cupbearer. He was just an ordinary man who was willing to be used by an extraordinary God. He made a choice. He could have opted to remain comfortable in the king’s palace, as he was one who could guard the king’s cup and sometimes taste the drink to make sure it was safe. To serve in this capacity, Nehemiah had to be proven trustworthy and loyal.

Despite Nehemiah’s place of prominence and influence, he was willing to put his comfort aside because of the gravity of his people’s situation. Nehemiah had just learned that those who went back to Jerusalem were in a difficult situation. They were in great distress and reproach for the walls were broken down, and the gates were burned with fire.

Nehemiah could have chosen to sympathize with their situation and maintain his life of comfort. This news placed a burden on his heart to the point that he wept and mourned for many days – fasting and praying before God.

What in our communities and families need to be rebuilt? Nehemiah was devastated about what happened in his hometown. Are we moved by the horrific things that go on in our communities that need our time and attention? They tell me that when you first cook cabbage, it has a bad smell. After a while of cooking, we get used to the smell. What “smells” have we gotten used to in our homes, in our communities, in our state, in our nation, or in our world?

PRAYER: Lord, open my eyes to really see what is going on in my family and in my community. Let me see the world the way you see it. Teach me how to pray so that it affects a healing and cure for our land. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.