Key Verse: Nehemiah 6:3
So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”

This writing may have been a report back to King Artaxerxes in Persia. Not only did it speak of rebuilding the walls, but of the reform of civil society. Nehemiah took measures to repopulate Jerusalem with observant Jews. He enforced the cancellation of debt providing a brand new start for the people. He assisted Ezra in teaching and implementing the Law of Moses. Nehemiah’s determined leadership is captured in our key verse. He considered what he was doing to be “a great work.” We should never minimize the call of God on our lives. Doing God’s will is “a great work.” In spite of attempts to lure Nehemiah away and put fear in his heart, he never gave up! He took leadership and persisted in his efforts. When those who opposed him tried to make him fearful, he refused to be afraid. He feared God (ultimate respect) more than anything man could do to him.

Malachi, preaching while Nehemiah was in leadership, declared, “Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His Name” (Malachi 3:16).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray that this blog will have the same results as Malachi’s ministry. Thank You for all who speak to one another, encouraging each other in their responses to the blog, by telephone calls, or in personal conversation, or even in forwarding the blogs to others. I’m asking You, Lord, as did Nehemiah, “Remember me, my God, for good” (Nehemiah 5:19a). Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:
At first glance it may seem self-centred to ask for God’s blessings for myself, but I’m fully aware that unless I am blessed, I cannot give what I don’t have. The Gospel song says, “Count your blessings; name them one by one. Count your blessings; see what God has done.” I’ve just gone into Google, typed in Count Your Blessings, and there was Guy Penrod singing this song on 100 Huntley Street (click here). On the senior’s TV series, Really Good Medicine, we had Jimmy Durante singing Irving Berlin’s song written for the White Christmas movie, Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep. I’ve often done that when I’m trying to fall asleep. It works!

Also, I have a grandson-in-law who is a police officer. As I was reading of Nehemiah’s plan to work with one hand while holding a sword in the other, I thought of the police motto, “To Serve and Protect.” Come to think of it, I want to do the same.

Yours for God’s goodness to be upon us all,

David