Lessons for the Church from Nehemiah
Christians are no longer bound to the letter of the Law; but the Old Testament reveals the nature of God and of mankind, and instructs us today by analogy.
Persian King Artaxerxes was moved with compassion by the grief on the face of Nehemiah, his cupbearer. Nehemiah had just heard that the walls of Jerusalem, destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, yet lay in ruins. Its people lacked strong leadership and were defenseless against their enemies. The king commissioned Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls. This is an apt metaphor for the Church, which in many ways lies in ruin and defenseless against the world. The Lord hears the cries of those who mourn for his Church, and moves them to aid in its restoration.
Most Jews actually stayed behind in Mesopotamia; only a relative few chose to return. Likewise, most Christians are satisfied and unmoved by opportunities to serve in a greater way. They lack the vision or fear the risk involved in moving beyond their comfort zones. Many of those who stayed did contribute to the effort -- it is always easier to contribute than to go yourself.
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Divine
Parodies & Holy Histories: with Select Poems:
Illustrations of Gospel Truth What happens when
God sends Elijah to a worship seminar? Who will help
the Little Red Hen evangelize her community? How did a
Japanese pilot who bombed Pearl Harbor become a Christian evangelist?
Why did a pastor hide his face with a cloth for the rest of his
life? ISBN 978-1-4303-0781-5 paperback, 104 pp., 6 x 9 in., with index. |
God's Trombone Books by Paul
Hughes
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