Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Nehemiah 2:17-20

Nehemiah 2:17-20

  Good teachers don't simply tell you how to mimic them to do something the right way.  They inspire an imagination and drive within the student so that the student wants to do things for themselves.  Good teachers help students think for themselves, so that the legacy of the teacher goes beyond the classroom and drives the student in other areas of life.
  What Nehemiah does here is so interesting.  The people of Jerusalem have been living as victims inside the ruined walls of the city.  At any point, they could have started fixing them on their own, but they were simply waiting, existing.  Nehemiah shows up, takes a tour, then tells them that he's there to fix the walls... and suddenly they're inspired to build and strengthening their own hands for the work they are about to do.  
  Nehemiah points to how God has called him to lead, and the people are encouraged to follow, even in the face of opposition.  Sanballat and Tobiah mock the effort from the start, but it's funny that they think Nehemiah will be worried about the king.  Nehemiah is on a mission from God -- even the king couldn't stop him if he tried, and he's inspired the people to believe the same thing.
  So friends, believe that you are called and sent by God, and tell others about God's calling and sending, and there isn't a force in the world that can stop you!

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