Nehemiah 6 - 10.21.22
Scripture
Nehemiah 6:16
When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.
Observation – What does it say?
Nehemiah faced great opposition. His enemies attempted to intimidate him to prevent his completion of the wall. So, Nehemiah asked God to strengthen him. And God did! As a result, the project God gave him to do was completed. When his enemies and the nations around heard about it they not only became afraid but they recognized the project’s completion wasn’t just because Nehemiah and the Israelites worked hard. They realized God helped them.
Understanding – What does it mean?
When I was 18, young but passionate in my relationship with God, my mentor asked me, “What do you want written on your tombstone?” I sat with God as I contemplated the question. I asked God what he wanted written on it. I listened but didn’t hear God give me anything specific in that moment. So I prayed a prayer of surrender and told God,
“God, I don’t care what is written on my tombstone. But whatever it is, I pray that when people read it they would know that there is no way it could have happened without a powerful move of God in my life.”
That prayer is still on the inside cover of my Bible. I believe God desires to glorify himself through us. As his followers, there should be something in our lives that causes the world to see and not be impressed with us, but be impressed with God and praise him.
Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Life Application
I want to live a life that points people to God. I don’t believe God saved me to be average. And if you’re reading this, I believe the same is true for you.
God, help us to live a life like Nehemiah. A life where we are about your mission, where we rely on your strength to accomplish it, and where you move in power through us to accomplish something much greater than we could in our own strength. Amen.
-Levi Thompson