Continuing On

O. T. #1054  "Continuing On"
Sept. 5, 2017
Nehemiah 4-Part 2
At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm.  Nehemiah 4:6

LET IT GLOW

How many half finished projects do I have lying around my house? I look around and can see some, that's for sure. Maybe it's that way in my heart. I become discouraged and back out of my service when it is not complete. Anyone know what I'm talking about?
The Jews and Nehemiah had that challenge in today's reading.

Ridicule and mockery-they can cut to the bone. They can result in discouragement and despair. It's called bullying now days. When it happens to children, it is stopped. But when adults do it, nothing stops it. It grows like a wild fire.

Nehemiah must have heard about the mockery of Sanballat and Tobiah. We can hear their ridicule in the first 3 verses. Not only were those men trying to hinder the building project, but they were enemies of the Jews and God.
How did Nehemiah respond? NLT verse of the Bible tells us:

• First, he prayed to his God. Nehemiah was driven to prayer 8 times during these events. (When forces of evil surround us, when we are faced with adversity, we must turn to God.)
• Hear us, our God, we are being mocked. Nehemiah included himself in the group need.
• May their scoffing fall back on their own heads. He asked for deliverance based upon God's justice and righteousness.
• May they themselves become captives in a foreign land. (The Jews had been in captivity for 70 years.)
• Do not ignore their guilt.
• Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of the builders. Nehemiah asked God to recompense them according to their sin.

When we are faced with a mockery of our faith, do we fall to our knees in prayer? Dear ones, He is waiting.

Psalm 91:15 assures us, He shall call upon Me, and I will answer Him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.

Are we calling upon Jesus in our time of need? His line is not busy.
Jesus has changed our right to ask for justice whenever His child is wronged. He tells us to be king, tenderhearted, forgiving, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven us. (Ephesians 4:32)

LET IT GROW

So what did these people do? They continued to work, according to our key verse. The job was only half don. They had more to build. Nehemiah ignored the sarcasm of the enemy and prayed, then continued to work. The opposition of  ridicule was overcome by the people.

In the midst of adversity the people had a unified purpose and a compelling desire to finish the work. (Falwell)

Are we setting our heart and mind upon finishing the task God has given us? Is our faith growing stronger and not faint? One day we will receive rewards for our faithfulness.

LET IT GO

Continue on faithfully serving God.

Don't faint, but grow strong faith.