Perhaps it is best to read these 8 verses in Nehemiah, before
going any further. It may sometimes seem as though we are backtracking or
repeating as you read the Daily Bible Blast, however there is meaning and
purpose in the progression. This link will bring you to the new BibleGateway.com.
There you can read, or click the speaker button to simply listen to: Nehemiah
2: 1-8
With great respect to God and the king, Nehemiah made his request
to go to Jerusalem. He did not immediately blurt out to King Artaxerxes the
burden that was upon his heart when the king inquired. He instead "prayed
to the Lord of heaven," and then replied to the king, beginning with
"If it pleases the king...."
Nehemiah
did not immediately flee from his responsibilities as the cup-bearer to the
king, and return to Jerusalem to begin his plight as re-builder of the wall.
Though he likely longed to arrive as quickly as possible to get the
restructuring under way and protect his people, Nehemiah viewed all of his work
as labor for the Lord as the bible calls us to do in Colossians 3:23. (NIV)
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as for the Lord….”
Nehemiah
covered all of his bases so to speak. He prayed, sincerely summarized his
dismay, and then requested permission to follow through with what he believed was
his calling from God. “And because the gracious hand of God was upon me, the
king granted my request.” Nehemiah 2:8
From
there, the journey was difficult, but because Nehemiah took his time
establishing a firm foundation before beginning his mission, he was able to
comfortably carry on. He had the approval of the king, and the blessing of the
Father.
Dear
Lord, your love and grace are far beyond our understanding. We praise and
worship you for being such a perfect and awesome God.Though through our
imperfection we make mistakes and fall short of what we are called to be,
please continue to be patient when we do not go to you first but instead
attempt to change and fix things on our own. Nehemiah is an amazing example of
how to prioritize and plan. May our hearts be reminded to turn to the ways of
those like Nehemiah as we build and rebuild our own Jerusalem. Amen
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