Thursday, October 14: Nehemiah 3- All for one.

 

Nehemiah was a tremendous organizer, project manager and motivator. This entire chapter details what families and groups of people were in charge of rebuilding what section of the Jerusalem wall. In a complete counter-clockwise tour of the walls, the responsibility for repair of each section and/or gate is parceled out. The plan is workable and brilliant in strategy and simplicity.

I was delighted and amazed listening to the descriptions of whom worked on the various sections. Priests, merchants, Levites, families, goldsmiths, makers of perfume, all labored to repair the broken-down walls. District rulers, country people and city people all put their shoulders to the labor.

The picture painted, as I read, was everyone pulling together to complete the work. It didn’t matter if you normally did that kind of work or not, you pitched in. It truly is a picture of everyone working toward one common goal… all for one!

I mused. Would that we in the church today (capital ‘C’ Church, yes, but more practically the local small ‘c’ church) labor that diligently and that unified for Jesus’ goal expressed on the Mt of Olives before his return to heaven:  Then Jesus came to them and said, "…Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…" (Matthew 28:18-20)

Lord, to that end I pray this morning.  That I, as part of Your church, and we, Your church local and universal, would labor with all diligence and unity, as one, in reaching the entire world with Your gospel message, discipling all who come to faith in You, Jesus, and teaching them the whole counsel of Your written word… Amen. May it be so. Amen.