Impossible Task?
Good Morning Friends,
Sometimes it is the questions of those around us, not ever our own, that we have to address. Such is the case in the story of Nehemiah. Here we see Nehemiah’s hope filled visionary leadership as a powerful example of Kingdom building… It is an example of the power of trying what has not been tried… of being noble about a cause. And relevant to our current theme, it teaches us how to prepare for and respond to a world that questions if we are engaged in an Impossible Task?
Scripture:
301The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capital, 2one of my brothers, Hanani, came with certain men from Judah; and I asked them about the Jews that survived, those who had escaped the captivity, and about Jerusalem. 3They replied, ‘The survivors there in the province who escaped captivity are in great trouble and shame; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been destroyed by fire.’ 4When I heard these words I sat down and wept, and mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5I said, ‘O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments; 6let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for your servants the people of Israel, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Both I and my family have sinned. 7We have offended you deeply, failing to keep the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances that you commanded your servant Moses. 8Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples; 9but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place at which I have chosen to establish my name.” 10They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great power and your strong hand. 11O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man!’ At the time, I was cupbearer to the king.
Nehemiah 1:1-11 (NRSV)
15So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid* and fell greatly in their own esteem; for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.
Nehemiah 6:15-16 (NRSV)
By you I can crush a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.
2 Samuel 22:30 (NRSV)
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)
Message: Proverbs tells us that where there is no vision, the people perish. It follows that the most hopeless people are those with a problem and no vision…no vision of God. This kind of vision helps us push through the problems and gives us the energy for the effort. We each have a role in rebuilding the broken world. We just have to identify a problem within our scope of influence…we have to see the need…feel the need and share the need with those who can be part of the solution…including God. And unless our hearts are broken over the need for God it may indeed be hopeless. But if we love, then we can discover and follow God’s vision remembering that God specializes in things once thought impossible… whether it is flying to the moon, transplanting a heart, sending an email or even responding to our deepest desires…if it glorifies God it is an answer to a question worthy of pursuing. Friends, the questions of others should not derail us but help us to learn….Here we learn to work together looking to God’s higher plan. Here we learn to focus on the possibilities.
Pray that we have a visionary prayer that exalts God…admits sin…reviews truth, requests help from God and shares the need with others. Pray we have in us a mature vision so that all things good become possible. Pray that we are prepared for a work that exceeds our ability and pray we believe that God will make up the difference.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 