Monday, May 21

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MONDAY

Phillipians 2:3-4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
For many years while leading Student Ministry Mission trips we used the book of Nehemiah as our focus for the week. It is a fabulous book to dig through while serving on a short term trip. (*Parents consider picking this book TODAY to study as a family for the rest of the month.) One of the practices we had during these trips was to experience different types of scripture study in order to create a favorite approach to gleaning all one could from the Word of God. Many finished the week liking the OPA method (Observations, Principles, Application). Now these were middle school students most of the time so perhaps it was the shortest or easiest to remember J. Regardless when we came to chapter three the observations were numerous and yet the principles were profound. Notice Nehemiah’s approach to the fatigue, frustration and fear that can lead to fractures in our families. What does Nehemiah do?

Nehemiah 4:13: “Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest point of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.”
Nehemiah positioned whole families so they would know what they were fighting for.

This is the defining moment for those who have returned from Exile to rebuild Jerusalem. When they saw each other as family units serving together in a larger family of faith, great power was unleashed. Some would argue they became an UNSTOPPABLE FORCE! Nehemiah rallied the families to serve where they were most needed because family bonds of love and protection are very strong. Your Bible might not say it like this, but I imagine that parents could be heard saying, “You mess with our kids and you’ll have to mess with us!” The very future of their families and their faith community was at stake. Families are designed to serve each other and to serve together in a cause bigger then themselves. Again using the OPA method consider the OBSERVATIONS of Nehemiah 3:

3:10 – “Jediah…made repairs opposite his house.”

3:23 – “…made repairs in front of their house…made repairs beside his house.”

3:24 – “…repaired another section, from Azariah’s house to the angle…”

3:28 – “…the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house.”

3:29 – “…made repairs opposite his house.”

3:30 – “…made repairs opposite his living quarters.”

Bruce McEvoy
Pastor of Family and Serving