“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” —Jesus in Matthew 5:13-16
YOU ARE CALLED BY GOD TO DO SOMETHING
IF YOUR ENEMY CAN’T DISCOURAGE YOU, IT WILL
Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained—though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates. So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono. —Nehemiah 6:1-2
OFTEN, WHAT WE CALL AN
THE BEST WAY TO RESPOND TO DISTRACTIONS IS TO SIMPLY
The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand, and this is what it said: “There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king. —Nehemiah 6:5-6
DO NOT LET SOMEONE ELSE’S
I replied, “There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.” They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination. Later I went to visit Shemaiah….He said, “Let us meet together inside the Temple of God and bolt the doors shut.—Nehemiah 6:8-10
But I replied, “Should someone in my position run from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No, I won’t do it!” I realized that God had not spoken to him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me. —Nehemiah 6:11-13
So on the 25th day of the month of Elul (October 2) the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. —Nehemiah 6:15-16
YOU’LL NEVER
For Reflection, Prayer, and Response
What is the good work that God wants to do through you? What burdens you?
What are the distractions that keep you from pursuing God’s will for your life?
OUR MOSAIC PRAYER
May the beauty of God be reflected in our eyes,
the love of God be reflected in our hands,
the wisdom of God be reflected in our words,
and the knowledge of God flow from our hearts,
that everyone around us might see and believe.