Scripture: Nehemiah 2:
Then I (Nehemiah) said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we may no longer suffer disgrace.” I told them that the hand of my God had been gracious upon me, and also the words that the king had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let us start building!” So they committed themselves to the common good. But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they mocked and ridiculed us, saying, “What is this that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven is the one who will give us success, and we his servants are going to start building; but you have no share or claim or historic right in Jerusalem.”
Thought for the Day: I used a slightly longer passage of scripture today, but it seemed appropriate in light of a Ministry Team Meeting we had this past Sunday. We had spent some time reflecting on the earlier part of the 2nd chapter – specifically the process by which Nehemiah discerned God’s call to rebuild Jerusalem and then moved through particular steps to help realize the vision God had placed in his heart. But here, later in the second chapter, Nehemiah reflects on how God’s vision and the best made plans to bring that vision to fruition can still hit roadblocks. It is one thing to ask legitimate questions. In fact, the discernment process and the actualizing of what has been discerned can often find greater focus through a process of sharing, reflecting and questioning. But in this passage, Nehemiah’s vision is immediately mocked. How often are visionary ideas squelched by short-sided comments that seek to undermine change and forward progress? Often an idea will shock us or make us feel uncomfortable, but in those moments, it is important to not react from a place of discomfort. Instead, we need to open ourselves to the possibility that maybe God is behind this new challenge.
Prayer: Help me to listen, Loving Lord, to new ideas that might have their origin with you. Just because I do not like it does not necessarily mean it is a bad idea. You are the One whose ideas have often been mocked, yet by your grace, you have always found a way of seeing them into reality. Thank you for being patient with us. Amen.
