How Do You Define Success?

Read: Nehemiah 12:27-31

We are drawing closer to Christmas Day and the end of 2019.  If you are a lot like me, you are spending some time reflecting on this past year.  What has gone well?  What has been difficult?  What goals have I achieved?  Where have I fallen short?  It can often leave us feeling we have not measured up, that we have failed in what we set out to do on January 1^st. 

Today’s reading is about the prophet Nehemiah.  The ancient Israelites had been in exile far away from their homeland.  The walls around their city, Jerusalem had been demolished, and the city had become inhabited by other nations.  After nearly 70 years, the Israelites were released from their captivity and began returning home.  They settled in and around Jerusalem, but they were a broken people.  They lived in the shadow of the ruins, the boulders of the once magnificent wall mocking them. 

Yet they were content there.  The prophet Nehemiah comes on the scene.  During the time of his exile, he was the cup bearer to the King of Persia.  He takes a trip back to Jerusalem to visit.  What he sees makes his heart melt, and he is overcome with grief.  Nehemiah prayed. And God stirred up a vision in his heart.  He must rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. 

It must have seemed crazy!  Afterall, what was he going to be able to do?  He was just a lowly cup bearer to a King in a foreign land. 

Fast forward 13 long, hard, trying years!  Miracles happened, opposition arouse, setbacks came.  Defeats and disappointments seemed to be winning.  But the day finally came when the wall was completed!  What a day to celebrate!!  Yet there is more.

I have been enjoying a book based upon the story of Nehemiah by Andy Stanley called “Visioneering.”  Listen to what Andy says about Nehemiah and success:

“There is a tendency to confuse success with the rewards of success. If you are where God wants you, fulfilling the responsibilities he has given you, you are successful. In fact, when that is the case, you are as successful as you will ever be. Granted, you may not be seeing or experiencing the rewards of your success. But you are successful nonetheless.

Success is remaining faithful to the process God has laid out for you.”

Nehemiah remained faithful to what God had called him to do every step of the way. 

Do you see the parallel in the Christmas story?  Mary, a young teenager, received a vision from God.  When the angel appeared to her and told her she would be the mother of Jesus, she said, 

“I am your handmaiden.  Let it be to me as you have said!” 

When did she see the rewards for her faithfulness?  On their way to Bethlehem when she was 9 months pregnant?  When Herod killed all the newborn babies?  When they had to flee to Egypt?  Or maybe when Jesus was arrested, put on trial and sentenced to death?  Maybe at the foot of the cross when she watched as her beloved son was crucified? 

Mary too remained faithful and put her hope in God even when all seemed lost.  She pondered ALL the things God had put in her heart and remained faithful to the process God had laid out for her, being the mother of the Savior of All.  Imagine the JOY she experienced what Jesus was raised to life again! 

Lord, thank you for the gift of Your Son Jesus, born for us! Help us to remain faithful to the vision You have for us and entrust ourselves to Your divine plan, to rescue and redeem the lost and broken people in this world!  We place our hope in You, that You have all things in Your hands and one day, You will restore US and all things beyond all we could ever ask or imagine.