Building Up in Love {Nehemiah 5-7}
9:00 PM
Chapter four ended with great victory! The
people of God were doing the work of God, and they did it despite all
obstacles. They worked with a sword in one hand and their weapon in the other,
and they would not let their enemies stop them! (Neh. 4:17-23) But in chapter
five, we find that the work stopped because of opposition among God's
people. The enemy could not stop the work of God by direct attack, but the work
stopped when God's people weren't unified and working together!
“Now there
was a great outcry of the [poorer] people and their wives against their Jewish
brothers [to whom they were deeply in debt]” (5:1 AMP)
When God's people fight one another they
certainly are neither fighting the real enemy nor getting God's work done.
Is any of this familiar to you? Isn’t this actually happening in some of
our families and churches? At work, school and even in our own Country?
“What leads to [the unending] [a]quarrels and conflicts
among you? Do they not come from your [hedonistic] desires that wage war in
your [bodily] members [fighting for control over you]? 2 You are jealous and covet [what others
have] and [b]your lust goes
unfulfilled; so you [c]murder. You are envious
and cannot obtain [the object of your envy]; so you fight and battle. You do
not have because you do not ask [it of God].” (James 4:1-2 AMP)
Jesus said: “Any kingdom
that is divided against itself is being
laid waste; and no city or house divided against itself will [continue to] stand.” (Matt. 12:25)
Nehemiah was
a Godly man and he wisely confronted them in love, even though these people where
“building a wall of separation” among their brethren and he also took the
proper steps for restoration (5:9-11).
"When God shows his people a
particular sin that we are guilty of, He doesn't tell us to take our time
dealing with it. No, He says,
`Deal with it now.' When we realize we are doing wrong, now is the time to stop
it. Making long range plans to correct a problem allows the sands of time
to hone off the raw edges of God's reproof in our lives. We end up
tolerating that sin and maybe even protecting it. Such laxity greatly
concerns our Lord. A prompt and thorough dealing with wrong in our lives
is essential." (Chuck Swindoll)
Paul gives us
the following instructions: “So I, the
prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to
which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly
character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that
expresses gratitude to God for your salvation], 2 with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and
gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one
another [a]in [unselfish]
love. 3 Make every
effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual
working together to make the whole successful].” (Ephes. 4:1-3)
So let us not be weary and let our arms fall in dismay, for we have much
work to do! We must fall on our knees and humbly pray without ceasing to our
God, so He can overcome those separation walls and restore all broken
relationships! Yes, He is Able AND He is Faithful (we can pray these verses in
Eph. 4 for ourselves and our loved ones)!!
“But speaking the truth in love [in all things—both our speech and our
lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into
Him [following His example] who is the Head—Christ. 16 From Him the whole body [the church, in all its
various parts], joined and knitted firmly together by what
every joint supplies, when each part is working properly, causes the body to
grow and mature, building itself up [b]in [unselfish] love.”
(Ephes. 4:15-16)
May we as Nehemiah, be willing to continue the good work: building up in
love! (Neh. 5:14-18)
Blessings my sisters!!
Mari
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