The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Nehemiah 3:1,
"Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate."
I note the beginning of this chapter recounts that the high priest and other priests participated in the rebuilding of the walls and gates of Jerusalem. The chapter documents the various people who participated in the rebuild. Members of other professions referenced are: goldsmiths, a perfume maker, district rulers of Jerusalem, Levites who ministered at the temple, temple servants and merchants.
Those who worked on an important task to insure the survival of Jerusalem, the repair of the city's walls and gates, had other occupations. I'm quite certain the occupational expertise of jewelers and goldsmiths had little to do with rebuilding walls and gates. Nonetheless, we see them all rolling up their sleeves, getting their hands dirty and getting the work done.
I do believe I have heard way too much talk over the years about what a person's "spiritual gift" may be in the context of how they might participate in the work of God building his kingdom - spiritual gifts that may not require hard work and dirty hands. Certainly we read in Scripture how God provides enablements or "gifts" of talents and abilities to build up the body of Christ. However, I don't find anywhere in the Scriptures that any enablement by the Spirit is cause to avoid "the dirty work" in helping out in those roles that may hold less honor or may be more inconvenient, or might get our hands dirty (in a figurative sense) , in relation to building God's kingdom.
Just an observation. We read in verse 5 of the "nobles" of Tekoa that "would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors." Lets make sure we do not fail to help in God's agenda of building his kingdom because we "don't have that gift" or simply because we do not want to do the hard work or get our hands dirty.
I love Paul's perspective, "We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands.When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment." 1 Corinthians 4:10-13. Here is a man who was willing to do the dirty work of building God's kingdom as an apostle of Jesus Christ. But I believe he did so because he knew the Lord well and desired to participate in accomplishing whatever was needed to further God's agenda.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
"Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate."
I note the beginning of this chapter recounts that the high priest and other priests participated in the rebuilding of the walls and gates of Jerusalem. The chapter documents the various people who participated in the rebuild. Members of other professions referenced are: goldsmiths, a perfume maker, district rulers of Jerusalem, Levites who ministered at the temple, temple servants and merchants.
Those who worked on an important task to insure the survival of Jerusalem, the repair of the city's walls and gates, had other occupations. I'm quite certain the occupational expertise of jewelers and goldsmiths had little to do with rebuilding walls and gates. Nonetheless, we see them all rolling up their sleeves, getting their hands dirty and getting the work done.
I do believe I have heard way too much talk over the years about what a person's "spiritual gift" may be in the context of how they might participate in the work of God building his kingdom - spiritual gifts that may not require hard work and dirty hands. Certainly we read in Scripture how God provides enablements or "gifts" of talents and abilities to build up the body of Christ. However, I don't find anywhere in the Scriptures that any enablement by the Spirit is cause to avoid "the dirty work" in helping out in those roles that may hold less honor or may be more inconvenient, or might get our hands dirty (in a figurative sense) , in relation to building God's kingdom.
Just an observation. We read in verse 5 of the "nobles" of Tekoa that "would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors." Lets make sure we do not fail to help in God's agenda of building his kingdom because we "don't have that gift" or simply because we do not want to do the hard work or get our hands dirty.
I love Paul's perspective, "We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands.When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment." 1 Corinthians 4:10-13. Here is a man who was willing to do the dirty work of building God's kingdom as an apostle of Jesus Christ. But I believe he did so because he knew the Lord well and desired to participate in accomplishing whatever was needed to further God's agenda.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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