Was hard to decide what to comment on today... so much in both Nehemiah and Luke.
I will continue with comments on Nehemiah's story for now. Isn't it interesting that as soon as they set to work, the opposers arose to try to stop the rebuilding of the walls. But the opposers were not all enemies, some were supposed friends.
Ellen White writes the following regarding this experience:
"The opposition and discouragement that the builders in Nehemiah’s day met from open enemies and pretended friends is typical of the experience that those today will have who work for God. Christians are tried, not only by the anger, contempt, and cruelty of enemies, but by the indolence, inconsistency, lukewarmness, and treachery of avowed friends and helpers. Derision and reproach are hurled at them. And the same enemy that leads to contempt, at a favorable opportunity uses more cruel and violent measures.
Satan takes advantage of every unconsecrated element for the accomplishment of his purposes. Among those who profess to be the supporters of God’s cause there are those who unite with His enemies and thus lay His cause open to the attacks of His bitterest foes. Even some who desire the work of God to prosper will yet weaken the hands of His servants by hearing, reporting, and half believing the slanders, boasts, and menaces of His adversaries. Satan works with marvelous success through his agents, and all who yield to their influence are subject to a bewitching power that destroys the wisdom of the wise and the understanding of the prudent. But, like Nehemiah, God’s people are neither to fear nor to despise their enemies. Putting their trust in God, they are to go steadily forward, doing His work with unselfishness, and committing to His providence the cause for which they stand.
Amidst great discouragement, Nehemiah made God his trust, his sure defense. And He who was the support of His servant then has been the dependence of His people in every age. In every crisis His people may confidently declare, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31. However craftily the plots of Satan and his agents may be laid, God can detect them, and bring to nought all their counsels. The response of faith today will be the response made by Nehemiah, “Our God shall fight for us;” for God is in the work, and no man can prevent its ultimate success." (Prophets and Kings, p. 644-645)Although discouraged, they kept marching forward! Such lessons for us today!
PS: Don't skip the beautiful fact in Luke 6:12, that Jesus prayed ALL NIGHT before choosing his disciples. What if we did the same when considering monumental and significant life decisions... what if we prayed all night before deciding what career path we were going to follow, or about who we should marry? What about if we took time once in awhile, maybe once a month, or once every few months, to pray all night on behalf of loved ones that aren't walking with the Lord? Jesus has given us an example... but how seldom we follow it I'm afraid, because we are too tired, too busy, too occupied doing things our own way and in our own strength...
Tomorrow's Reading: Neh. 5-6 and Luke 7
No comments:
Post a Comment