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Thursday, April 19, 2018

Building Up in Love {Nehemiah 5-7}




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]? 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], with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another [a]in [unselfish] love. 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