THE TROWEL AND THE SWORD
Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 3-4
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The Broad Wall is an ancient defensive wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. The wall was unearthed in the 1970’s by Israeli archaeologist Nahman Avigad and dated to the reign of King Hezekiah (late 8th century BC). This wall is referred to in Nehemiah 3:8.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Nehemiah 4:6
So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
Those who opposed the building of the wall tried to stop the project in several ways. Firstly, they used ridicule, mocking the vision of the Jews. Secondly, when their indignation had turned to anger, they conspired to use violence against the Jews. The response of those who had God’s vision for the wall was to have “a mind to work,” to make “our prayer to our God,” and to “set a watch against them [their enemies] day and night.”
In doing the will of God for our lives today, let us work hard, pray hard, and watch carefully for enemy activity. Why do we fight the fight of faith? Yes, for our own futures, but as 4:14b tells us, we fight for our families, “our brothers and sisters, our sons and daughters [also for those in other families who have no one to fight for them], our wives [husbands] and our houses.” The imagery of a trowel (the work) in one hand and a sword (the protection of daily reading God’s Word) in the other hand, is powerful. A complimentary New Testament reading could be Mark 10:28-31, where we are promised by Jesus 100 times more in houses, brothers, sisters, etc. The best results come from doing God’s will in spite of opposition.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray for daily strength to work diligently for Your cause, and to stand on guard against all attacks on Your great purposes for my life and that of my family. In the Name of the Carpenter who said, “I will build My Church,” and “I make all things new,” Jesus, Himself, Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
In Canada’s national anthem we repeat several times, “We stand on guard for thee.” This brings to mind a story from my Dad and his partner in guard duty at Fort Henry in Kingston, Ontario, during WWI. Private Mainse and Private Hawley were on night duty walking the circumference of the Fort outside the walls. They would meet, salute, turn about face and walk the opposite directions until they met again. Each time they met they would each quote a sentence from the Bible which they had memorized the day before. The son of Private Hawley, Martin Hawley, confirmed this story to me not long ago. Both Privates became Generals in my books. It’s no wonder that they both were called of God into His service. They became ordained ministers of Christ.
The last building project in which I was involved was the Crossroads Centre in Burlington, Ontario (picture below). The building houses 143,000 square feet of TV studios, offices, a restaurant, and convention facilities. I invite all our readers to visit. I traveled to a quarry in Muskoka to choose the great stone you see pictured outside the entrance. The Scripture below the stone says, “Thus saith the Lord: stand at the crossroads and look, and ask for the ancient paths where the good way lies, and walk in it, and find rest for your souls!” Jeremiah 6:16 (NRSV).
Yours for having “a mind to work” and “rest for your souls” and “to not be afraid,”
David
The Crossroads Centre, Burlington, Ontario, opened in 1992.
Praying for a complete recovery for Ann..for wisdom, knowledge and skill on the part of all involved for the next steps after the surgery, and for strength and encouragement for all the family
Yes. In agreement with you, Eleanor. And a speedy recovery.
Show me the way, to go for You Lord. Thank you Crossroads. For amazing ministry you are providing.
Thanking the Lord for the fact that Ann’s surgery went well. Praying for complete recovery and for God’s comfort and peace upon Ann, Ron and the whole family!
Blessings on each and every one of you, dear fellow bloggers. Praying for all who need a touch/miracle from the Lord, today.
Good to hear from you, dear Beverlee! Be blessed!
Amen saints for the prayers for Ann’s recovery. Please pray for my niece Erin who lost another baby to miscarriage. She and her husband so desire to have a little one so needs healing.
Ger: I pray that The Lord would be merciful to Erin and her husband. That if it be His will they would be able to have a child one day. We don’t understand why these things happen, but we do know that He is a Good God who cares about all of us .
Blessings to all Eleanor M.
Praying for Ann (and Ron !) for God to be merciful and give her a full recovery.
Today’s scripture was about ‘restoration’! God bless
Found some good words by Dr. Jim Denison and his son, Ryan that seemed to me to relate to those opposing Nehemiah’s wall. Have a blessed day all saints near and far.
The psalmist observed: “The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength” (Psalm 33:16). Rather, “the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love” (v. 18). Because God is “our help and our shield” only when we “trust in his holy name” (vv. 20, 21), we can best serve our nation by serving our Father.
“So, as you reflect on the Mueller hearings and the never-ending series of political issues that are sure to follow, I ask that you first take a moment to pray for God’s help in understanding not just the news but also how to calibrate your response in light of your kingdom responsibilities.
Again, that does not mean being apolitical, but it does mean not letting our political views hinder the gospel. That can be a fine line to walk at times, but it is one we must urgently avoid crossing.
So, speak kindly and with respect for the fact that every person you meet is a unique, complex creature who is loved desperately by our heavenly Father.”