What City Are We Building?
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Nehemiah 11, 12:1-26 and Psalm 119:17-24 (NIV)
(Lynn Lau, Asst Treasurer)
READ:
The Jewish people had returned to Jerusalem after captivity and had rebuilt the temple. But the lack of fortified walls around the city left the people defenseless, unsafe and humiliated at living in a destroyed city. When Nehemiah heard this, he took action to restore the city walls.
In Nehemiah 11, Jerusalem by now had the walls rebuilt, but it was not yet fully inhabited. People did not want to move into Jerusalem itself, possibly for a variety of reasons, including the following: (1) they didn’t care for living in a holy city, (2) the city itself was hated by its neighbours and people feared persecution, (3) it was not the place to live a life of wealth and pleasure, nor (4) a place that had the conveniences and safety of other cities. While the priests and Levites led by example, they had to cast lots to send others to inhabit the city. But for all those who chose to honour God, He honoured them by including all their names in Nehemiah 11-12.
OBSERVE:
What about us today? What is the place God invites us to help build His city? Are we not interested because it is inconvenient to build it? Because it is not a place where we can live in pleasurable comfort? Because it requires holy living? Because we might be persecuted?
In Psalm 119, the psalmist prays to God to “deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things of your law. I am a sojourner on the earth… “
APPLY:
At our workplaces, am I building God’s city? Or is the workplace somewhere for me to build a pleasurable lifestyle? Do I hide my true identity as a child of God because it is hard to live a holy life? Do I fear persecution because my values are counter-cultural? God rewards bountifully those who submit to His higher will, and reminds us that we are but sojourners in this world, looking upward for eternity.
DO:
I will remember God’s bountifulness to me, and serve Him by building His city, pursuing holiness and giving faithfully for His Kingdom’s work.
PRAY:
Lord, help me surrender all to You, to pursue Your plans for me, and to live sacrificially like the pioneers in Jerusalem were willing to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
