Back in Nehemiah
Let's pick up our reflections back in chapter one .... having fun?
Nehemiah had a broken concern for the state of his people. Most likely Nehemiah had never seen nor lived in Jerusalem so his motivation was not for his home per say. Being Jewish he knew that God dwelled among His people so the state of the people reflected the glory of God. Nehemiah was broken hearted that his God was shamed by the state of the place, the people, and the view of God in the world. Jerusalem was the center place of Jewish worship so the state of the city reflected the spiritual condition of the people. The people were in ruins as was the city. So true for the many churches today, the spiritual condition and lack of cultural influence of the church cast a negative reflection on the glory of God. A leader’s first focus in bring renewal most be on God and His glory not church growth.
When Nehemiah felt the prompting of God regarding the great task he first looked at his own spiritual condition. Personal renewal starts at the heart of the leader. Unless the leader is renewed then the movement of God is thwarted. When a leader encounters God he is changed and from that change God leverages the leader’s heart. God put Nehemiah in a humble place of brokenness so God would get the glory for the assignment God had for him. We must remember that God is always more interested in what He does in us than what we do for Him.
Nehemiah had a broken concern for the state of his people. Most likely Nehemiah had never seen nor lived in Jerusalem so his motivation was not for his home per say. Being Jewish he knew that God dwelled among His people so the state of the people reflected the glory of God. Nehemiah was broken hearted that his God was shamed by the state of the place, the people, and the view of God in the world. Jerusalem was the center place of Jewish worship so the state of the city reflected the spiritual condition of the people. The people were in ruins as was the city. So true for the many churches today, the spiritual condition and lack of cultural influence of the church cast a negative reflection on the glory of God. A leader’s first focus in bring renewal most be on God and His glory not church growth.
When Nehemiah felt the prompting of God regarding the great task he first looked at his own spiritual condition. Personal renewal starts at the heart of the leader. Unless the leader is renewed then the movement of God is thwarted. When a leader encounters God he is changed and from that change God leverages the leader’s heart. God put Nehemiah in a humble place of brokenness so God would get the glory for the assignment God had for him. We must remember that God is always more interested in what He does in us than what we do for Him.
Labels: Reflections
posted by Scott Weatherford at
9:16 AM
1 Comments:
Ruins. We sometimes find ourselves in the middle of ruins. They are most often caused by us. Other times, the ruins are a result of life stuff and/or others around us. In a recent message at FOTH, you suggested that the question to God is not WHY is this happening to us but WHAT is God doing or WHAT is He trying to say to us. This was a good Word for us to hear. I agree that we must first look inward before looking out to see WHAT God would have us to do. We so often want to get busy and do something. A lot of time and wasted effort could be saved if we would simply BE STILL. Silence, quietness, alone time with God...we desperately need to return to the basics of God-life. Be Still and Know that He is God.
By
Jim, At
April 21, 2008 7:09 AM
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