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5 I 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; 6 let 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.
When something is not functioning properly,
our natural tendency should be to address it. From something as
simple as a replacing a light bulb that is not working, to going
and seeking medical help when your sick. It's our sense of
responsibility to respond in action, when there is a need.
Today's passage in
Nehemiah chapter 1 displays the responsibility of a young man, who chose to
respond to the needs of his fellow Jews. Nehemiah had heard from his
brothers that the Jews were in great trouble, due to the wall of Jerusalem
which had been torn down and the gates destroyed by fire. The reaction
that he displays upon hearing this challenging news is truly a Godly
example of faith in action.
Nehemiah 1:4,
"When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned,
fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven." Believers in the Lord
are inspired to follow 3 key steps that Nehemiah displays.
1) Confession and
repentance of our sins, brings us into a right standing with Jesus.
Before you can help anyone in need, you have to help yourself first.
In order to witness Jesus, you have to be partakers of his life, death on
the cross, and the power of His resurrection. Believing that Jesus
truly is the Son of God, who died in your place and mine, so that we can be
partakers of His righteousness.
2) Prayer allows for
God to work in the circumstances and situations. Before Nehemiah took
any steps or action, he fasted and prayed to God. When we seek the
Lord first in prayer, we are placing Him in the honor and glory that only
He deserves, to rightfully lead us to witnessing Him through the need that
is present.
3) Faith along with
works displays the Lords Will in every situation. Nehemiah's faith
was tested, when he requested to King Artaxerxes to help him rebuild the
walls of Jerusalem. Since Nehemiah confessed before the God his sins
and prayed for direction, God displayed His power by allowing the King to
help with this need. Nehemiah's faith in action allowed for a
powerful witness to all of God's people, and even to those who didn't
believe in God. Ch 6, vs 15 verifies that in a matter of 52 days the
walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt. The responsibility of every
Christian is to witness Jesus in their environments, through all kinds of
difficulties and challenges.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we
often hear about the struggles and difficult situations that your people
endure. Whether it is within or out of our control, help us to respond so
they see our Christian witness as an answer to their prayers. Strengthen
us to step out in faith and display your love to a world in need. Amen
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY:
We often let God down, when we pass up on opportunities to witness Him in
our lives and those around us. Boldly respond, by believing that God will
equip you with His power, His wisdom, and His unlimited resources.
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