For Your Name Sake

(5-29-05)

Neh.1:1-11

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Nehemiah served God in an amazing way; by stepping out of his comfort zone and doing what God called Him to do. Even though it was something he had not done before. His answer to God’s stirring His heart was – yes Lord!

Some 70 years before this event Jeremiah was wrestling with God for the sake of these people. (Jer.14:1-14) God’s patience ran out with His people and He finally told Jeremiah: "Do not pray for the well-being of this people." (verse 11) God is merciful. God is patient. God is loving. All these statements are true but there are limits to each. (see Neh.9:30-10:39)

God is still merciful today and He is still patient and His love does abound and yet wisdom says – "pay attention to how God has dealt with His people in the past." (see 1Cor.10:11-12) Our Lord Jesus is patient for a reason, He does not want anyone to perish. (2Pet.3:9) Jesus’ patience is exercised differently towards those who are redeemed and those who are not. I don’t know all the reasons why but some of the reasons have to do with the peoples knowledge and responsibility towards Him.

Don’t we find this to be true in how we deal with a family member and how we deal with a stranger? Why? Different expectations. What does Jesus expect from His Church, from His people and from you individually? (Are these questions worth asking?)

God had high expectations for Israel but those expectations were not met. Why? Unbelief and disobedience. (see Heb.3:19-4:6 and 8:7-13) Jesus has not only expectations for His redeemed people but also high demands. He has a right for such demands and expectations, He is Lord, Master, King and owner of the redeemed, His people, the Church. (Rev.1:5; 5:9-10)

What is the right response for this church body. Do we have reason to believe that we could do a better job? Reason with me; Israel believed what they wanted to hear, that they were just fine and God was willing to look the other way at their slights and indiscretions and even a few blatant out right sins. To their destruction they were wrong.

Self deception was the trap of their vanity. Nehemiah had a heart for the house of God and the city of His affections and the resting place for His name and He wept, and prayed and fasted and then He got up and did something about it. He stepped out with boldness to do what he believed God was calling him to do. There is much we could learn by following Nehemiah around and modeling our faith and that faith’s outpouring after.

Nehemiah is not here but you are. Are you the example for a young Christian (maybe a Christian want-a-be) to model their faith and life and practice after? What will a new, aspiring Christian learn to aspire too by watching you? Is it time for a re-dedication of your heart and a redirecting of your energies and time?