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- Oct 26, 2007
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Therefore I positioned [men] behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses." Nehemiah 4:13-14 NJKV
Nehemiah’s heart was convicted to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem after the temple had been reestablished many years earlier. With the letters from King Artaxerxes, and a cavalry escort, Nehemiah headed out. But the local pagan governors did not want the Jews to prosper, and since the Persian capital was nine hundred miles away, Nehemiah was pretty much on his own.
But threats from his adversaries did not dissuade Nehemiah. His courage was contagious, and work progressed swiftly “for the people worked with all their heart” (Nehemiah 4:6). But as the walls rose, so did the opposition. To keep the work going, half the men stood guard while the other half worked, and even those wore a sword!
You too have an enemy who will oppose your work for God. So if you want to build something of spiritual value, you will have to do it while dressed for battle.
Prayer: Great and awesome God, strengthen me today to stand my ground!
Nehemiah’s heart was convicted to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem after the temple had been reestablished many years earlier. With the letters from King Artaxerxes, and a cavalry escort, Nehemiah headed out. But the local pagan governors did not want the Jews to prosper, and since the Persian capital was nine hundred miles away, Nehemiah was pretty much on his own.
But threats from his adversaries did not dissuade Nehemiah. His courage was contagious, and work progressed swiftly “for the people worked with all their heart” (Nehemiah 4:6). But as the walls rose, so did the opposition. To keep the work going, half the men stood guard while the other half worked, and even those wore a sword!
You too have an enemy who will oppose your work for God. So if you want to build something of spiritual value, you will have to do it while dressed for battle.
Prayer: Great and awesome God, strengthen me today to stand my ground!
