To listen to the audio version, click here.
Nehemiah 7:1-3
After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed. I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do. I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.”
A friend who coached one of my sons travel baseball teams years ago used to like to say to the boys when they were cleaning up the dugout after a game, “Leave it better than you found it!” What he meant, of course, was that he wanted the boys to not only clean up their own gear and pick up any empty Gatorade bottles they had tossed in the dugout, but also to scour the whole area for trash so that the next group would arrive and find a clean ball field.
“Leave it better than you found it.”
That’s a pretty good standard to apply to many situations when you think about it. And, in his own way, that’s what Nehemiah is doing here in chapter 7.
I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.”
It’s easy to miss what is going on here because we are so far removed from that time and culture. Historians tell us that the gates of an ancient city were usually opened early in the morning, to allow the day’s commerce to begin, and then closed at sunset, to keep the city safe. Here Nehemiah suggests the added security measures of opening the gates later and closing them earlier. He is simply taking extra precautions because he knows that even though the walls and gates have been rebuilt, their enemies have not gone away.
I think Nehemiah is making sure that he “leaves it better than he found it.” He is preparing to hand over leadership to Hanani and Hananiah and he wants to do everything he can to help them be successful in their task. He has rebuilt the wall of the city but he now focuses on leaving a leadership infrastructure that will ensure the long term survival of the people make Jerusalem their home.
I think there’s a lesson for us as the church in all of this. Our church family today is made up of roughly 4,000 men, women and children. But while we are the FBCG church family today, not one of us was here in 1894 when the church was founded! We have inherited this ministry from those who have gone before, and someday we will also pass it on to those who come after us.
The question is, will we leave it better than we found it? Like Nehemiah, will we long for God’s best for his people? Will we carefully inspect the walls and gates of the church to see where they may need to be strengthened? Will we each be willing to do our part to pray and serve and give so that, like ancient Jerusalem, the church will be able to stand against the enemy? And, when the time comes, will we hand the leadership baton to the next generation in a way that will encourage their future success?
Nehemiah left Jerusalem better than he found it; may we do the same!
Pastor Brian Coffey
Monday, August 4th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
Monday, August 4
Nehemiah 7:1-3
After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed. I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do. I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.”
After leading the colonies to victory in the Revolutionary War and serving two terms as the first President of the United States of America, George Washington refused to serve a third term even though his election was certain. He refused for two main reasons; he wanted to return to his plantation in Mount Vernon and he simply believed it was better for the future of the nation that leadership not be focused on one man.
In many ways Nehemiah was a leader much like George Washington. He led the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem which also served to rebuild a people. He inspired a rag-tag group of downtrodden people to not only rebuild the walls and gates of their city, but to courageously fight off enemies who sought their destruction. Then, when he had accomplished so much, and could easily have laid claim to an enormous amount of control and power in the city he had rebuilt, he decided to entrust leadership to
two men named Hanani and Hanahiah.
After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed. I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do.
In the first 6 chapters of the story we see Nehemiah’s extraordinary vision and leadership. In chapter 7 we see his extraordinary humility and wisdom. Think about it! Nehemiah is the one who risked his life and reputation by sharing his sadness over Jerusalem with King Artaxerxes. He is the one who put the entire plan together. He is the one who inspired the people with his vision of a restored Jerusalem. He is the one who endured the taunts and threats of a very real enemy. Now, just when you think he would be thinking about enjoying the position of respect and power that he would inevitably have had in a rebuilt Jerusalem, he hands leadership over to others.
He chooses Hanani because he was the one who brought the news of Jerusalem’s sad situation; and he chooses Hananiah because he is both a soldier and a man who fears God.
Then he gives them detailed instructions about how to keep the city safe now that the walls and gates have been rebuilt.
Why would Nehemiah choose to delegate authority and leadership instead of holding on to it as his right and privilege? We aren’t told Nehemiah’s reasons but I think we can make some guesses based on what we already know about the man.
We know that the whole project was never about Nehemiah; rather, it was always about God and his desire for his people. Nehemiah knew the city didn’t belong to him, but rather to God. We also know that Nehemiah’s vision was born in prayer before the God of heaven, so we can assume that just as he began the work in obedience to God, he also stepped back in that same obedience.
What can we learn from Nehemiah?
I think we can learn that it’s not about us! Whatever leadership role God has given you, whether it be as a parent, a Sunday School teacher or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, it’s not about you! God’s call on our lives is always about his will and the people he loves.
Pastor Brian Coffey
Monday, August 4
Nehemiah 7:1-3
After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed. I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do. I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them. Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.”
After leading the colonies to victory in the Revolutionary War and serving two terms as the first President of the United States of America, George Washington refused to serve a third term even though his election was certain. He refused for two main reasons; he wanted to return to his plantation in Mount Vernon and he simply believed it was better for the future of the nation that leadership not be focused on one man.
In many ways Nehemiah was a leader much like George Washington. He led the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem which also served to rebuild a people. He inspired a rag-tag group of downtrodden people to not only rebuild the walls and gates of their city, but to courageously fight off enemies who sought their destruction. Then, when he had accomplished so much, and could easily have laid claim to an enormous amount of control and power in the city he had rebuilt, he decided to entrust leadership to
two men named Hanani and Hanahiah.
After the wall had been rebuilt and I had set the doors in place, the gatekeepers, the musicians and the Levites were appointed. I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do.
In the first 6 chapters of the story we see Nehemiah’s extraordinary vision and leadership. In chapter 7 we see his extraordinary humility and wisdom. Think about it! Nehemiah is the one who risked his life and reputation by sharing his sadness over Jerusalem with King Artaxerxes. He is the one who put the entire plan together. He is the one who inspired the people with his vision of a restored Jerusalem. He is the one who endured the taunts and threats of a very real enemy. Now, just when you think he would be thinking about enjoying the position of respect and power that he would inevitably have had in a rebuilt Jerusalem, he hands leadership over to others.
He chooses Hanani because he was the one who brought the news of Jerusalem’s sad situation; and he chooses Hananiah because he is both a soldier and a man who fears God.
Then he gives them detailed instructions about how to keep the city safe now that the walls and gates have been rebuilt.
Why would Nehemiah choose to delegate authority and leadership instead of holding on to it as his right and privilege? We aren’t told Nehemiah’s reasons but I think we can make some guesses based on what we already know about the man.
We know that the whole project was never about Nehemiah; rather, it was always about God and his desire for his people. Nehemiah knew the city didn’t belong to him, but rather to God. We also know that Nehemiah’s vision was born in prayer before the God of heaven, so we can assume that just as he began the work in obedience to God, he also stepped back in that same obedience.
What can we learn from Nehemiah?
I think we can learn that it’s not about us! Whatever leadership role God has given you, whether it be as a parent, a Sunday School teacher or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, it’s not about you! God’s call on our lives is always about his will and the people he loves.
Pastor Brian Coffey
Thursday, July 31st
To listen to the audio version, click here.
10 Minutes with God:
Thursday, July 31st, 2014
Have you ever stopped to think about all that is supposed to be
included in the well balanced life? In
order for us to be “healthy”, we are supposed
to find time to work hard, but not over work.
We should of course make time for family, that is a priority. We need to have space for other vital
relationships (friends and if you are married, couple friends). You need to be sure to work-out (your body is
a temple after all), eat right, stay up-to-date on the latest cultural events,
be politically informed, leave a little space for entertainment or refreshment
and in the 8 minutes that you have left, sleep.
As Christians, we add to the list our daily devotions, spending time in
prayer, serving in our community and in the church and making it to our small
groups. It’s exhausting just
thinking about it all.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t mean to suggest that these things
aren’t important. They
are. It is important to read God’s
Word and to serve, to pray and to be healthy.
It is all important but when you add it all together, you can begin to
see how easy it is to lose our focus on our God given mission in life. There seem to be a million different things
coming at us every day, vying for out attention and clamoring to be done
immediately.
I often think of this as a modern day problem, an unintended
consequence of the advancement of technology or something like that. Sometimes I even find myself longing for the
good old days, simpler times and all of that. As it turns out, the problem has always been
there. We saw the potential for this
yesterday in the life of the disciples from Acts 6. In the infancy of the life of the church,
there was a very real threat for them to become distracted from their primary
mission, “prayer and the ministry of the word” (Acts
6:4).
Even Jesus was not immune to experiencing the pull of warring
priorities. Take a look at Mark 1:21-39:
21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the
Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished
at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the
scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean
spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What
have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know
who you are—the
Holy One of God.” 25
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be
silent, and come out of him!”
26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud
voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned
among themselves, saying, “What
is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits,
and they obey him.” 28
And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of
Galilee.
Jesus Heals Many
29 And immediately he[f] left the synagogue and entered the
house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law
lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came
and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she
began to serve them.
32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were
sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the
door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out
many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew
him. And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed
and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those
who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns,
that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” 39 And he went throughout all
Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Most of the time I think of these last few verses as a model for
prayer, and they are, but in the larger context of Mark 1, there is something
else going on here that stands out to me.
I think that Jesus is also modeling what it looks like to stay on
mission. When the disciples wake up and
find Jesus, they essentially say to Jesus, “where have you
been, everyone is waiting for you.” The
people had seen the miracles and the demons that were cast out, and they wanted
more. When morning arrives, there is a
gathering of those looking for Jesus to do more of the same and they are
wondering when he is going to get to work.
Jesus’ reply however isn’t to return and meet the requests of
those waiting for him. Jesus instead
tells his disciples, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I
may preach there also, for that is why I came out.”
Kevin DeYoung, is his book Crazy Busy comments on this passage
saying, “When all Capernaum waited for his healing touch, he left for
a desolate place to pray. And when the
disciples told him to get back to work, he left for another town to
preach. Jesus knew the difference
between urgent and important. He
understood that all the good things he could do were not necessarily the
things he ought to do.”
Jesus understood his mission and his mission determined his
priorities, not the other way around. In
the end, nothing could deter him from that mission. Jesus is the perfect example to us of what
focused and purposeful living looks like.
Pastor Sterling Moore
Friday, August 1st
To listen to the audio version, click here.
10 Minutes with God:
Friday, August 1st, 2014
I used to run cross-country. This will come as quite a surprise
to many of you that know my complete and total aversion to physical activity of
any kind these days. I signed up for the team my senior year of high school
mainly because several of my friends were on the team and I had nothing better
to do. This is a perfect example of negative peer pressure. I thought it
sounded fun but seriously under-estimated the amount of running that was
involved. Considering I spent most runs in the back of the pack, my grandpa
used to say I spent all my time staring at elbows. He was very supportive of my
running career.
If you have ever been to a cross-country race, you know that the
finish line is typically marked with a large, bright banner that was hung as
high as possible so that it would be visible to the runners. This was always a critical point in the race
for me. Primarily because I was in a heated
battle to avoid finishing last. When
there are 100+ runners in a race, it looks really bad to finish last. Secondarily, however, the moment that my eyes
could see the finish line I had hope. It
was always at that moment that I knew I could make it. As soon as I could see
the finish line, I ran with more purpose, commitment and determination (but
unfortunately, the same speed).
As we conclude our time in 10 Minutes with God this week and the
consideration of Nehemiah’s example of a purposeful and focused
life, I want us to take a few moments to consider how we live this type of life
in our own relationship with Jesus and in our own call to model the gospel.
Let’s take a look at Hebrews 2:1-2:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to
Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set
before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right
hand of the throne of God.
Ironically, the author of Hebrews uses the example of running a
race as a model for how we can/should live out our lives in Christ. These verses follow the list in Hebrews 11 of
those who had gone before them and demonstrated a focused and purposeful
faith. People like Enoch and Noah,
Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Rahab, Samson, Gideon, David and others whose focus
was fixed on God and that ultimately guided their actions and their choices. In light of this “great cloud of
witnesses”, Hebrews essentially instructs us on how to run.
There are a couple of things that stand out to me in these
verses. The first is the need to get rid
of that which is slowing me down. Most
of the week we have talked about distractions.
The author of Hebrews calls it sin.
I love that these verses are blunt.
Sin in our lives is the equivalent to running a marathon while carrying
a backpack full of rocks. It makes it
really difficult to progress, to keep running.
The solution is clear here: get rid of it. If we are to run with the sort of
effectiveness and impact of those who have gone before us, we have be willing
to identify sin in our lives, confess it as sin and receive forgiveness. Confessed sin is weightless and consequently
we can run freely.
Lastly, and I think most critically, we are taught to look to
Jesus. In the NIV translates this phrase
by saying “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith”. In the immediate context of the book of
Hebrews, at the conclusion of a marathon there would oftentimes be a public
figure or a celebrity of some sort seated on an elevated throne, ready to greet
the runners at the conclusion of the race.
Drawing from that imagery, these verses remind us that the key to
running is to understand what we are running towards, to see the finish line
and not to take our eyes off it. Herein
lies the essence of purposeful and focused living: we look to Jesus and we don’t
remove our eyes from what awaits us at the finish line. 2 Corinthians 4:18 says it this way: “So
we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen
is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Run well.
Pastor Sterling Moore
Wednesday, July 30th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
10 Minutes with God:
Wednesday, July 30th, 2014
Do you ever have moments when you go upstairs to get something and by the time you arrive, you have completely forgotten what you were looking for? That seems to be happening to me far too often these days. Somewhere between the time that I decided that I needed something and arriving at the place to acquire it, enough has gone through my mind that I am distracted to the point where I can no longer remember my original purpose. It can be immensely frustrating.
On a spiritual level, I notice this most often in times of prayer. I can be in the middle of a conversation with God and somewhere in the middle of the prayer, a random thought pops into my head. The next thing I know, I have been thinking about my next day’s agenda, what I had for dinner last night, whether or not I remembered to DVR that new show that looks like it might be cheesy but also looks like it might have potential or if the Cubs are ever really going to be a relevant team again. Somewhere in the midst of my mental rabbit trail, I remember that I was praying and apologetically return to my conversation with God. Imagine if we did that in a conversation with a friend…we would have a lot less friends.
This week during 10 minutes with God, we have been looking at the example of Nehemiah as someone who demonstrates purposeful and focused living. We reminded ourselves that we, as the Body of Christ, have an ever-present and great calling to proclaim the gospel in our communities, our families, our schools and in our church. At the same time, there are many distractions that seek to draw our attention away from gospel living.
Today, I want to consider an example from the New Testament. The disciples were receiving some criticism because some of the widows in their community were not receiving the same care and attention as others.
Let’s take a look at Acts 6:1-7:
6 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists[a] arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers,[b] pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
The reply in verse 2 has always stood out to me. The disciples said “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.” At first glance this almost comes across as condescending, like the work of taking care of the widows is below them. Upon further reflection, I think that quite the opposite is true. I think that the disciples understood that importance of this potential conflict and the ramifications if the matter remained unresolved. However, when determining a solution, they also understood what demanded their immediate attention: “prayer and the ministry of the word”. Their decision to appoint qualified and spirit-filled leaders wasn’t because this work was below them. They appointed these leaders because they understood and were committed to the specific responsibilities that they had in the church.
I find a bit of freedom in these verses. If it wasn't an expectation on the disciples in the early church to personally meet every need, then it probably isn’t the expectation for you or I either. Honestly, I actually think that it is my pride that gets in the way here. “If I don’t respond to this need” or “If I don’t meet with this person” then crisis will certainly ensue. The model that we see lived out by the disciples reminds of two important truths. First, the disciples had a clear understanding of the role that God had placed in their lives. Second, they were completely committed to staying focus on that call. They did not ignore the issue but they did not compromise their calling to respond to it either.
I mentioned this week in the sermon that Nehemiah was uniquely qualified to lead the effort to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem. In his position as cup-bearer to the King, God had given him influence and opportunity. Where has God given you influence and opportunity? Where ever that is in your life, you can bet (at least in part) that is where God has placed you to accomplish His Kingdom purposes. Don’t miss your opportunity for impact by losing sight of the calling that God has created specifically for you.
10 Minutes with God:
Wednesday, July 30th, 2014
Do you ever have moments when you go upstairs to get something and by the time you arrive, you have completely forgotten what you were looking for? That seems to be happening to me far too often these days. Somewhere between the time that I decided that I needed something and arriving at the place to acquire it, enough has gone through my mind that I am distracted to the point where I can no longer remember my original purpose. It can be immensely frustrating.
On a spiritual level, I notice this most often in times of prayer. I can be in the middle of a conversation with God and somewhere in the middle of the prayer, a random thought pops into my head. The next thing I know, I have been thinking about my next day’s agenda, what I had for dinner last night, whether or not I remembered to DVR that new show that looks like it might be cheesy but also looks like it might have potential or if the Cubs are ever really going to be a relevant team again. Somewhere in the midst of my mental rabbit trail, I remember that I was praying and apologetically return to my conversation with God. Imagine if we did that in a conversation with a friend…we would have a lot less friends.
This week during 10 minutes with God, we have been looking at the example of Nehemiah as someone who demonstrates purposeful and focused living. We reminded ourselves that we, as the Body of Christ, have an ever-present and great calling to proclaim the gospel in our communities, our families, our schools and in our church. At the same time, there are many distractions that seek to draw our attention away from gospel living.
Today, I want to consider an example from the New Testament. The disciples were receiving some criticism because some of the widows in their community were not receiving the same care and attention as others.
Let’s take a look at Acts 6:1-7:
6 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists[a] arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers,[b] pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
The reply in verse 2 has always stood out to me. The disciples said “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.” At first glance this almost comes across as condescending, like the work of taking care of the widows is below them. Upon further reflection, I think that quite the opposite is true. I think that the disciples understood that importance of this potential conflict and the ramifications if the matter remained unresolved. However, when determining a solution, they also understood what demanded their immediate attention: “prayer and the ministry of the word”. Their decision to appoint qualified and spirit-filled leaders wasn’t because this work was below them. They appointed these leaders because they understood and were committed to the specific responsibilities that they had in the church.
I find a bit of freedom in these verses. If it wasn't an expectation on the disciples in the early church to personally meet every need, then it probably isn’t the expectation for you or I either. Honestly, I actually think that it is my pride that gets in the way here. “If I don’t respond to this need” or “If I don’t meet with this person” then crisis will certainly ensue. The model that we see lived out by the disciples reminds of two important truths. First, the disciples had a clear understanding of the role that God had placed in their lives. Second, they were completely committed to staying focus on that call. They did not ignore the issue but they did not compromise their calling to respond to it either.
I mentioned this week in the sermon that Nehemiah was uniquely qualified to lead the effort to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem. In his position as cup-bearer to the King, God had given him influence and opportunity. Where has God given you influence and opportunity? Where ever that is in your life, you can bet (at least in part) that is where God has placed you to accomplish His Kingdom purposes. Don’t miss your opportunity for impact by losing sight of the calling that God has created specifically for you.
Tuesday, July 29th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
10 Minutes with God:
Tuesday, July 29th, 2014
I don’t know if you have noticed this or not but it seems that everyone is really busy these days. I know that I am. As a matter of fact, one of the most common answers that I hear when I ask someone how they are doing is “Good, just really busy?” That is probably the most common answer that I give when I am asked the same question. We live in a seemingly perpetually overwhelmed culture.
In a men’s small group that I meet with each Wednesday morning, we recently read a book entitled Crazy Busy by Kevin DeYoung. As you can probably guess from the title, the book is addressing this very same issue. At the conclusion of the book I felt a little disappointed. Despite the fact that the author had warned early on that he would not be offering conclusive and simple steps on how to resolve the issue of business, that is exactly what I was looking for. I wanted someone to offer 5 easy steps to a less busy life. I am not sure that this is available.
DeYoung however does very effectively expose much of what is at the root cause the the business epidemic. One of the primary culprits is our propensity to say yes to the good at the cost of the great. There are more opportunities than we can count coming at us every day. Good, meaningful opportunities that anyone could (and they do) make a compelling case warrant our involvement. The issue is not that the opportunities are negative or destructive (although those are available as well), it just that they shrift our focus from that which is primary, “the great work” that God has set before us.
This brings us back to the book of Nehemiah. Yesterday we looked at how Nehemiah models focused and purposeful living. Look at again at the efforts that his enemies make to slow or stop the work that he is doing to restore the wall that surrounds Jerusalem:
Nehemiah 6: 1-12:
6 Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. 3 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?” 4 And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner. 5 In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem[a] also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king. 7 And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.” 8 Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” 9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God,[b] strengthen my hands.
10 Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.” 11 But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live?[c] I will not go in.”
In these verses, Nehemiah’s enemies try three different times to distract him from the work that God had set before him. Each time Nehemiah is resolute and remains firmly where God has placed him, on top of the wall. As we discussed in yesterday’s 10 Minutes with God post, in contrast to Nehemiah’s unwavering focus on the work at hand, often times I feel like my eyes are constantly shifting between warring priorities.
Ultimately, what I am coming to understand is that the problem is not that I am busy. In many ways, I should be busy. Nehemiah was busy. You don’t rebuild a wall in 52 days that had been laying in ruins for over a century and a half by working half-days. There is a lot to do in our families, in our community and in the church. The question that I need to ask and deal with honesty is not whether or not I am busy but rather if I am busy with the right things? Have I taken my eyes off of that which is primary in the pursuit of that which is secondary? When properly ordered in our lives, we like Nehemiah, can say to all the distractions around us…”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?”
10 Minutes with God:
Tuesday, July 29th, 2014
I don’t know if you have noticed this or not but it seems that everyone is really busy these days. I know that I am. As a matter of fact, one of the most common answers that I hear when I ask someone how they are doing is “Good, just really busy?” That is probably the most common answer that I give when I am asked the same question. We live in a seemingly perpetually overwhelmed culture.
In a men’s small group that I meet with each Wednesday morning, we recently read a book entitled Crazy Busy by Kevin DeYoung. As you can probably guess from the title, the book is addressing this very same issue. At the conclusion of the book I felt a little disappointed. Despite the fact that the author had warned early on that he would not be offering conclusive and simple steps on how to resolve the issue of business, that is exactly what I was looking for. I wanted someone to offer 5 easy steps to a less busy life. I am not sure that this is available.
DeYoung however does very effectively expose much of what is at the root cause the the business epidemic. One of the primary culprits is our propensity to say yes to the good at the cost of the great. There are more opportunities than we can count coming at us every day. Good, meaningful opportunities that anyone could (and they do) make a compelling case warrant our involvement. The issue is not that the opportunities are negative or destructive (although those are available as well), it just that they shrift our focus from that which is primary, “the great work” that God has set before us.
This brings us back to the book of Nehemiah. Yesterday we looked at how Nehemiah models focused and purposeful living. Look at again at the efforts that his enemies make to slow or stop the work that he is doing to restore the wall that surrounds Jerusalem:
Nehemiah 6: 1-12:
6 Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. 3 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?” 4 And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner. 5 In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. 6 In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem[a] also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king. 7 And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.” 8 Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” 9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God,[b] strengthen my hands.
10 Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.” 11 But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live?[c] I will not go in.”
In these verses, Nehemiah’s enemies try three different times to distract him from the work that God had set before him. Each time Nehemiah is resolute and remains firmly where God has placed him, on top of the wall. As we discussed in yesterday’s 10 Minutes with God post, in contrast to Nehemiah’s unwavering focus on the work at hand, often times I feel like my eyes are constantly shifting between warring priorities.
Ultimately, what I am coming to understand is that the problem is not that I am busy. In many ways, I should be busy. Nehemiah was busy. You don’t rebuild a wall in 52 days that had been laying in ruins for over a century and a half by working half-days. There is a lot to do in our families, in our community and in the church. The question that I need to ask and deal with honesty is not whether or not I am busy but rather if I am busy with the right things? Have I taken my eyes off of that which is primary in the pursuit of that which is secondary? When properly ordered in our lives, we like Nehemiah, can say to all the distractions around us…”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?”
Monday, July 28th
To listen to the audio version, click here.
10 Minutes with God:
Monday, July 28th, 2014
There are reminders posted along highways and city streets informing drivers of the dangers of distracted driving. Studies have shown that distracted driving is as dangerous if not more dangerous that driving while intoxicated. It’s a pretty serious issue that we really couldn’t have imagined 20 years ago. Cell phones and ipods, while offering many benefits, have the unintended consequence of causing many people to take their eyes off that which needs their undivided and complete attention-- the road.
As dangerous as distracted driving is, distracted living has an ever greater potential for harm. One of the principal themes throughout the book of Nehemiah is that focused living produces Kingdom results.
Take a look at Nehemiah 6:1-4:
Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. 3 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?” 4 And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner.
I love Nehemiah’s reply to his enemies when they attempt to stop his work: “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?” As we look at the example of Nehemiah, it occurs to me that that one of the critical aspects of focused living is the understanding and awareness that we are part of “a great work”.
In all honesty, I think that I live much of my life only partially aware of the reality that God has called me to be a part of a great work. As the church, we have been left with the responsibility and calling to represent Christ and his ministry to the world around us. Ephesians chapter 5 (vs 17-21) articulates the this great work this way:
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[c] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
What strikes me in these verses is the fact that the calling, or great work, that we are about in our lives and in the church is as clear and it is vital. Oftentimes I look at the example of Nehemiah and think, “if only God would speak as specifically and as powerfully to me; then I could live with that degree of commitment.” But God has spoken to me just as clearly and the work is even greater than the task that was set before Nehemiah. As the church we are in fact the very ambassadors of Jesus Christ. We carry the message of the gospel- the message of life into a world that is dying. There can be no greater calling and no more important task. This is our primary calling, our great work.
As I mentioned earlier, one of the the themes that has impacted me the most from our study of Nehemiah is that focused living produces Kingdom results. As I process the example of Nehemiah, there are a few questions that have emerged for me that you may find helpful as you consider your own awareness and understanding of the calling God has placed in your life. If you are someone who likes to journal, it may help to write our your responses to these questions.
As we continue through the week, I want us to consider more specifically some of the distractions that prevent us from maintaining our focus on our great work. What causes us to take our eyes off of the gospel and to settle for something less than living as the very ambassadors of Jesus Christ?
10 Minutes with God:
Monday, July 28th, 2014
There are reminders posted along highways and city streets informing drivers of the dangers of distracted driving. Studies have shown that distracted driving is as dangerous if not more dangerous that driving while intoxicated. It’s a pretty serious issue that we really couldn’t have imagined 20 years ago. Cell phones and ipods, while offering many benefits, have the unintended consequence of causing many people to take their eyes off that which needs their undivided and complete attention-- the road.
As dangerous as distracted driving is, distracted living has an ever greater potential for harm. One of the principal themes throughout the book of Nehemiah is that focused living produces Kingdom results.
Take a look at Nehemiah 6:1-4:
Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. 3 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?” 4 And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner.
I love Nehemiah’s reply to his enemies when they attempt to stop his work: “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?” As we look at the example of Nehemiah, it occurs to me that that one of the critical aspects of focused living is the understanding and awareness that we are part of “a great work”.
In all honesty, I think that I live much of my life only partially aware of the reality that God has called me to be a part of a great work. As the church, we have been left with the responsibility and calling to represent Christ and his ministry to the world around us. Ephesians chapter 5 (vs 17-21) articulates the this great work this way:
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[c] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
What strikes me in these verses is the fact that the calling, or great work, that we are about in our lives and in the church is as clear and it is vital. Oftentimes I look at the example of Nehemiah and think, “if only God would speak as specifically and as powerfully to me; then I could live with that degree of commitment.” But God has spoken to me just as clearly and the work is even greater than the task that was set before Nehemiah. As the church we are in fact the very ambassadors of Jesus Christ. We carry the message of the gospel- the message of life into a world that is dying. There can be no greater calling and no more important task. This is our primary calling, our great work.
As I mentioned earlier, one of the the themes that has impacted me the most from our study of Nehemiah is that focused living produces Kingdom results. As I process the example of Nehemiah, there are a few questions that have emerged for me that you may find helpful as you consider your own awareness and understanding of the calling God has placed in your life. If you are someone who likes to journal, it may help to write our your responses to these questions.
- How do I define or understand the “great work” that God has placed in my life? What does it mean for me to be “Christ’s ambassador”?
- How does my awareness of God’s calling in my life to live out the Gospel and represent Him impact how I approach my life? How does it impact the way I approach today?
- What takes my eyes off of the “great work” that God has given me? What distracts me?
As we continue through the week, I want us to consider more specifically some of the distractions that prevent us from maintaining our focus on our great work. What causes us to take our eyes off of the gospel and to settle for something less than living as the very ambassadors of Jesus Christ?
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