Nehemiah Acts

Read Nehemiah 2-3
 
Nehemiah 2:4-5 The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.”
 
THERE is often risk in responding to God’s call on your life. Especially if you’ve been a valuable member of an organization, or you have wonderful relationships with family members, people who value you may not be pleased with the work God is giving you to do. For Nehemiah, a servant, it was not a simple matter to say to a king, “I need to go away.” And even to be sad before the king was a potentially deadly matter. Kings wanted humble and grateful people around them. A sad servant would reflect badly on the master. And kings were prone to remove servants who displeased them. We might consider our own attitude before the LORD.
    So why then do you think the king so quickly granted Nehemiah’s significant requests? Could it be that Nehemiah had always demonstrated humility and devotion to his work? Perhaps the king has learned to trust Nehemiah. As cupbearer, Nehemiah tasted each drink to prevent the king from being poisoned. Nehemiah had faithfully served the king with his life. The king knows his servant is not a frivolous man. There is a sadness in Nehemiah’s heart, and the king wants to help his servant. You can say, “Nehemiah and the king had a close relationship.”
    This is a good example of our relationship with God. Many people live as if God is only available when there is trouble in their lives. They lack joy, devotion and commitment to the LORD, unwilling to serve him with gladness. When they request something from God and get no answer, they wonder, “Where’s God when I need him?” Maybe it’s better to ask, “Have I been faithful to serve the King, who has called me to serve him? What kind of relationship do I have with the King of kings?”
    One of Jesus’ most frightening teachings relates to the matter of unfaithful service to God: Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
    Jesus condemns hypocrisy. To say, “I believe in God.” yet to deny his authority in your life brings your salvation into question.
 
Pause and Know: To be an effective leader for Christ begins with an active humility before Christ.