We like to believe that everyone will welcome us with open arms when we show up to help. Sadly, that's not always the case. Imagine that you're Nehemiah -- you've left behind a great job, headed to a rundown Jerusalem, and as soon as you show up, some of the local muscle is already disappointed that you're there.
What do you do?
If it were me.... I'd probably start complaining to God, asking why God sent me to this place where people weren't happy to see me. Even if I had volunteered in the first place! Then I'd start looking around for someone to blame.
But that's not Nehemiah's approach. He goes right into the city, untroubled by this opposition. He gets to work -- he's got a job to do, and even if others aren't happy with his presence, he's going to get to work protecting the people and the city.
We're going to face opposition. Jesus promises this, although many preachers skip over that section. We face opposition today in all sorts of different channels and places, but just like Nehemiah, we have a choice. We can get busy focusing on the mission, or we can go back to where we thought we were safe. Safety is an illusion -- the world doesn't offer us that, and there are no guarantees of it. The only safety is in God's hands. So let's get busy serving, and let the opposition be whatever it shall be, for we trust in God.
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