Nehemiah : WK 3 - FRI
See for Yourself
Nehemiah 2:12-15
I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. We took no pack animals with us except the donkey I was riding. After dark I went out through the Valley Gate, past the Jackal’s Well, and over to the Dung Gate to inspect the broken walls and burned gates. Then I went to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but my donkey couldn’t get through the rubble. So, though it was still dark, I went up the Kidron Valley instead, inspecting the wall before I turned back and entered again at the Valley Gate.
During the few days since his arrival in Jerusalem, Nehemiah has been busy… quiet, yet busy. He takes care to avoid drawing attention to his activities by walking the broken city walls at night instead of during the day. This makes his work more challenging, but it is worth it. Painstakingly, he circles the city, sometimes by donkey and other times on foot. He is committed to seeing for himself.
This is essential for us to internalize. Have you ever found yourself worked up by stories shared by a friend or colleague? Your blood pressure rises, and you spring into action. Sometimes we begin by hurling accusations and launching a scorched-earth campaign. Have you ever done this only to find out you were acting on inaccurate or incomplete information? Whoops. We apologize, but it is nearly impossible to return things to their original state.
Never assume the walls are broken down solely based on what others say; see for yourself. This principle is especially true for our relationships. I wonder how many marriages, friendships, and spiritual connections are ruined because of incorrect information that is quickly seized upon?
In Matthew 18, Jesus suggested a reliable way to avoid these losses. He says that whenever we believe someone has wronged us, we should go to them directly and privately, seeking to reconcile the relationship. Skip discussing it with others who are not involved, as that tends to make things worse and often muddles the truth of the situation. Go, see for yourself what the problem is. Imitate Nehemiah, stubbornly circling the broken city walls by probing with questions, striving for full understanding, and then try to fix it from there.
Nehemiah has tested his assumptions and seen for himself. This leads us to one last note for the day. If you truly want to go on a mission for God, ask Him to guide you through the brokenness that pains His heart. Invite Him to lead you into the rubble of the lives He bled and died for. Align your heart with the heartbeat of God for those in need or far from Him.
Lord God, reveal your calling to us. May we see for ourselves.
Nehemiah 2:12-15
I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. We took no pack animals with us except the donkey I was riding. After dark I went out through the Valley Gate, past the Jackal’s Well, and over to the Dung Gate to inspect the broken walls and burned gates. Then I went to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but my donkey couldn’t get through the rubble. So, though it was still dark, I went up the Kidron Valley instead, inspecting the wall before I turned back and entered again at the Valley Gate.
During the few days since his arrival in Jerusalem, Nehemiah has been busy… quiet, yet busy. He takes care to avoid drawing attention to his activities by walking the broken city walls at night instead of during the day. This makes his work more challenging, but it is worth it. Painstakingly, he circles the city, sometimes by donkey and other times on foot. He is committed to seeing for himself.
This is essential for us to internalize. Have you ever found yourself worked up by stories shared by a friend or colleague? Your blood pressure rises, and you spring into action. Sometimes we begin by hurling accusations and launching a scorched-earth campaign. Have you ever done this only to find out you were acting on inaccurate or incomplete information? Whoops. We apologize, but it is nearly impossible to return things to their original state.
Never assume the walls are broken down solely based on what others say; see for yourself. This principle is especially true for our relationships. I wonder how many marriages, friendships, and spiritual connections are ruined because of incorrect information that is quickly seized upon?
In Matthew 18, Jesus suggested a reliable way to avoid these losses. He says that whenever we believe someone has wronged us, we should go to them directly and privately, seeking to reconcile the relationship. Skip discussing it with others who are not involved, as that tends to make things worse and often muddles the truth of the situation. Go, see for yourself what the problem is. Imitate Nehemiah, stubbornly circling the broken city walls by probing with questions, striving for full understanding, and then try to fix it from there.
Nehemiah has tested his assumptions and seen for himself. This leads us to one last note for the day. If you truly want to go on a mission for God, ask Him to guide you through the brokenness that pains His heart. Invite Him to lead you into the rubble of the lives He bled and died for. Align your heart with the heartbeat of God for those in need or far from Him.
Lord God, reveal your calling to us. May we see for ourselves.
- Which sense resonates more with you: hearing, seeing, or touching? What makes you say that?
- Have you ever lost a relationship over something that wasn’t true? What did you do about it?
- When you pray, do you feel God calling you to a specific mission? How could you test your assumptions about that project?
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