Tuesday, February 24, 2015
TEXT: NEHEMIAH 3:6-22
Key Verse: “And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters. And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain” (Nehemiah 3:12,22).
Commenting on leadership ability to understand the mood of people and be thus propelled to take appropriate and timely action, a Scottish philosopher, Francis Hutcheson said, ‘That action is best which procures the greatest happiness for the greatest numbers’.
Nehemiah which means ‘The Lord comforts’, was the personal cupbearer to the Persian King, Artaxerxes (464-424 BC). About 445 BC, Nehemiah received permission from the king to go to Judah to restore his people’s fortunes. This did not come on a platter of gold. After he had been informed that ‘the remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire’ (1:3); he began fasting and praying for God’s intervention.
Nehemiah mobilized the people in such a way that the rebuilding of Jerusalem walls became a matter, not only of civic responsibility but of national emergency. Everyone was involved. Even women, Shallum’s daughters, were physically involved. They defied cruel mockings and jesting of their detractors.
Today, many places of worship look more like poultry farms than God’s houses. Some are even without walls and gates. There is great need for leaders with vision and concern for the building of befitting places of worship for the Lord. These should be leaders who, like Nehemiah, will mobilize everyone for the attainment of such noble objective. Above all, every believer ought to participate in making God’s house, a beauty to behold.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 CORINTHIANS 1 - 4
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: It is virtuous to give of your best to the service of the Most High.
Higher Everyday for Youths - Link: http://highereveryday.dclmhq.org/
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