6.25.23 - The Good Work
Week 4: Shut the Door on Distractions
If your opponents can’t
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. 2So 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 (NLT)
- What we call an
- Don’t say
- If you’re always available to
- Just because you
- Saying no to the
The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand, 6and 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 (NLT)
You will never do
Don’t let someone else’s
I replied, “There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.” 9They 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. 10Later I went to visit Shemaiah …. He said, “Let us meet together inside the Temple of God and bolt the doors shut. Your enemies are coming to kill you tonight.” —Nehemiah 6:8-10 (NLT)
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!” 12I realized that God had not spoken to him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me. —Nehemiah 6:11-13 (NLT)
And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” —Nehemiah 6:3 (ESV)
Remember, O my God, all the evil things that Tobiah and Sanballat have done. And remember Noadiah the prophet and all the prophets like her who have tried to intimidate me. 15So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. 16When 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 6:14-16 (NLT)
You will never
Talk It Over
1) Why are distractions so effective at derailing the good work we’re doing?
- As we approach the finish line of our good work, why is it important to remember that we’re not aiming for what’s popular—we’re aiming for what’s important?
2) What steps can you take to stay focused on the work God’s given you to do?
- Identify the distractions you face while doing good work and commit to avoiding those distractions in the future.