On Tuesday 18th August we began a brand new series of Daily Inspirations \u2013 in the Book of Nehemiah. It\u2019s a riveting tale of someone being called by God to do something amazing \u2013 and then doing it! Nehemiah is a wonderful character, full of faith, wisdom and practical common sense. Let\u2019s journey with him over the next few weeks, and be inspired by his example.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Day 25, Tuesday 22nd September \u2013 Nehemiah 13:23-31<\/a> \u2018Remember me, my God\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Every November we have our season of remembrance. It begins with All Saints Day on the 1st \u2013 a chance to remember the global church \u2013 moves through Bonfire Night and concludes with Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, when we remember the impact of war, and rededicate ourselves to the cause of peace. Remembering is important, and necessary; it forms a major theme of scripture. Time and again, God\u2019s people are called to remember \u2013 their God, their history, their unfaithfulness, God\u2019s faithfulness \u2013 because our memory is our identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s interesting, though, is that it\u2019s not always one-way traffic. In fact, in the Psalms, the great \u2018book of remembering,\u2019 there are more references to God remembering us<\/em> (16) than the other way round (11). God, of course, unlike us does not have a problem with memory \u2013 but calling this to mind serves in the Psalms as both a wonderful affirmation of faith, and a heartfelt prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps it is no surprise to find Nehemiah concluding his own story in similar terms. As we observed a couple of days ago, chapter 13 is a sobering way to finish the tale, and what punctuates this last part of the story is that simple prayer: \u2018Remember me, my God.\u2019 Nehemiah increasingly feels like King Cnut, endlessly trying to push back the unstoppable tide of disobedience and spiritual apathy. After all his endeavours, all he can cry out is: \u2018Remember me, my God.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n I think the pattern of these prayers is significant, too. Someone once observed to me that most people start as Arminians and end up as Calvinists; it\u2019s a posh way of saying that when we\u2019re young, we think faith is all about us, about how much we can do for the Lord. As we get older though, increasingly we realise how reliant we are on the grace of God. We become \u2013 painfully and joyfully \u2013 conscious that it\u2019s all grace. It\u2019s not about us, it\u2019s about God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nehemiah\u2019s final reflections seem to follow this pattern. Look how they start: (v14) \u2018Remember me for\u2026 what I have so faithfully done.\u2019 Then (v22): \u2018Remember me\u2026 show mercy to me according to your great love.\u2019 And finally, here in the last verse, a simple cry from the heart: \u2018Remember me with favour, my God.\u2019 I\u2019ve done all I can, but in the end, it\u2019s all you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It bears a striking resemblance to the prayer of the thief on the cross: \u2018Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.\u2019 Yet, the contrast between the two couldn\u2019t be greater, could it? The thief who had nothing to offer Jesus but this one prayer; and Nehemiah who had lived a life of outstanding service and great achievement. In their last words, though, the only way they can truly approach God is exactly the same<\/em>: \u2018Remember me, my God.\u2019 It\u2019s all grace. It\u2019s all about God, and not about us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a good way to finish this story, isn\u2019t it? After all the exploits, Nehemiah is not ultimately a book about Nehemiah, it\u2019s a book about God. As we\u2019ve seen throughout, Nehemiah\u2019s great life relied on God\u2019s grace and was lived in humility. He finished how he started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May this be the pattern of our life\u2019s journey, too. It\u2019s not how we start, it\u2019s how we finish. \u2018Remember me, my God.\u2019 Because it\u2019s not about me; it\u2019s all about you. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Day 24, Monday 21st September \u2013 Nehemiah 13:15-22<\/a> \u2018Respecting the Sabbath\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We live in a workaholic society. Take the Enlightenment dogma of continuous progress, mix with a subtle blend of the Protestant work ethic, add a sprinkling of consumerist worship at the altar of customer entitlement, shake thoroughly and hey presto! A fabulous modernist cocktail. And, like a cocktail, tasty as it seems at the time, drink too many and you\u2019ll pay for it in the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Teaching on the value of sabbath has never been more important, or harder to achieve. It\u2019s tempting to think, though, that it \u2018must\u2019 have been easier in ancient times. Not so; although at first reading today\u2019s passage appears as yet another example of \u2018silly\u2019 disobedience on the part of God\u2019s people \u2013 they know what they needed to do, they just didn\u2019t do it \u2013 look below the surface and this fragile community were facing serious pressures. Imagine leaving Babylon \u2013 the largest and wealthiest empire in the world \u2013 to set up business again in Israel: chances are business was tough, the large and lucrative markets weren\u2019t there, especially with hostile nations around them. No wonder they were tempted to open on the Sabbath; to do seven days of business rather than six.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s so easy to think like that, isn\u2019t it? But to do so misses the ultimate point of Sabbath: it is not just about rest (though that is vital and fundamental), it\u2019s about trust<\/em>. We stop for a day, trusting God to provide for our needs. We refuse to believe the appealing little lie that our success in life depends entirely on our own efforts. We remind ourselves that we are not our own gods, and joyfully submit to the one true God, who graciously and lovingly provides what we need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is what Nehemiah was so worked up about; we might see his response as an over-reaction, but Nehemiah knew his history: (v18) \u2018Didn\u2019t your ancestors do the same things, so that our God brought all this calamity on us and on this city? Now you are stirring up more wrath against Israel by desecrating the Sabbath.\u2019 The Sabbath, almost more than any other commandment, was a touchstone of the people\u2019s relationship with the Lord \u2013 precisely because it indicated how much they were trusting Him. Hence the extreme measures Nehemiah took to preserve it (vv19-21).<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we reflect today, let\u2019s return to those Sabbath themes of rest and trust. Which speaks to you? Where is the Lord nudging you toward renewal in your life? And let\u2019s use the words of Nehemiah\u2019s simple prayer as our response: (v22) \u2018Remember me\u2026 my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.\u2019 Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Saturday 19th September \u2013 John 1:29-34<\/a> \u2018Deeply dipped\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Following our reflection yesterday on the need for inner transformation to effect real and deep change, we conclude our week revisiting a passage in John on the same theme:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Every so often an innovation comes along which changes the game. The product remains the same, but once this innovation is launched, what was once perfectly acceptable is no longer adequate. Think graphite tennis rackets replacing wooden ones at the end of the 70s\/early 80s. Think the iPhone being launched in 2007. It\u2019s still the same thing, but at the same time entirely different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the journey of faith, the coming of Christ produces the same effect. It\u2019s still the same God we worship \u2013 yesterday, today and forever \u2013 but the New Covenant gives us direct access to this God in a new way. And the sign and seal of this deeper, more intimate relationship with God is baptism. The word means \u2018dipped\u2019, but as the passage makes clear we need two \u2018dippings\u2019. John baptism was with water (v26, v31, v33) \u2013 a baptism of cleansing and repentance. An external sign of an inward attitude \u2013 profound, yes; important, certainly; but with no power in itself to change the heart. It relied on human effort to achieve the intention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus comes, though, with a game-changer. Jesus will baptise \u2013 \u2018dip\u2019 \u2013 us with the Spirit (v33). In other words, the presence of God coming into our hearts, the power of His love transforming us from the inside out<\/em>. It\u2019s a game-changer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And what held true then still holds true today. We all need both<\/em> baptisms \u2013 of water and Spirit \u2013 but it is the latter which empowers us day by day. Water baptism is about initiation. Spirit baptism is about intimacy. And the great news is that this intimacy is available to all believers, everywhere, every day. It\u2019s not a one-off, but a continuous flow of the water of life into our hearts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It also casts us back to God\u2019s grace. It\u2019s so easy for us to try and rely solely on our efforts and good intentions. But even one of the great holy people \u2013 John the Baptist \u2013 knew that it wasn\u2019t enough. We need to be deeply dipped in God\u2019s Spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So today, give thanks that you are not alone, your walk with God does not depend all on your own efforts. What a relief! And pray to be filled \u2013 dipped \u2013 again in the love, presence and power of God by the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Day 23, Friday 18th September \u2013 Nehemiah 13:1-14<\/a> \u2018Promises, promises\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n People can\u2019t obey God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Or at least, not all of the time, or even most of the time. You could say that, \u2018People can\u2019t obey God\u2019 is a pretty good summary of the whole Old Testament, certainly its history books. Renewal is only ever temporary, things usually go back to how they were after a while. Nothing new under the sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As one commentator put it quite bluntly, the book of Nehemiah ends less with a bang and more with a whimper. After the high point of the dedication of chapter 12, and indeed the reforms which renovated the contributions and tithes to sustain the worshipping life of the people, it\u2019s downhill all the way in chapter 13 \u2013 or rather, more of a bumpy ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the other reforms enacted by Nehemiah starts ch13: the commitment not to intermarry with other races. If this seems unduly separatist \u2013 especially remembering that Ruth, King David\u2019s great-grandmother, was from Moab \u2013 then what follows underlines why it mattered. The Lord\u2019s prohibition on intermarriage was not some sort of closet racism, it was the pragmatic recognition that intimately sharing other worldviews would undermine the faithfulness of God\u2019s people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So it proved here: as soon as Nehemiah was called back to Babylon, after 12 years of unstinting service (v6), the new priest in charge of the storerooms gave over much of the space to Nehemiah\u2019s old enemy, Tobiah (vv4-5). The result was corruption on a grand scale: offerings and tithes were diverted (v5); the Levites and musicians weren\u2019t provided for, and therefore went back to working the land (v10); as a result, presumably, the worshipping life of the Jews was also \u2018neglected\u2019 (v11).<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a sorry tale of how quickly spiritual growth can peter out, if we choose to disobey God\u2019s clearly revealed will. Back we go down the mountain again. Nehemiah returns, however, and once more sets things right: (v8) Tobiah is thrown out (again); (v9) the rooms are purified (again); (v12) the tithes restarted (again); and (v13) new leaders appointed to make sure that this time it\u2019s done properly. It\u2019s a remarkable testimony, once more, to Nehemiah\u2019s resilience, faithfulness and leadership ability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Chapter 13 reminds us that, great as Nehemiah was, a human leader can only ever effect temporary change. We need Someone who can transform us from the inside out, to make that kind of renewal permanent. That\u2019s never mentioned in these pages \u2013 but it\u2019s a powerful lesson we take (implicitly) from this wonderful little book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we reflect today, let\u2019s acknowledge that the people in these pages are so like us; let\u2019s give thanks that we have an eternal leader, even greater than Nehemiah \u2013 the Lord Jesus Christ \u2013 on whom we can fix our eyes every day; and let\u2019s resolve to keep living the life, empowered by the grace of the only One who can truly transform us. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Day 22, Thursday 17th September \u2013 Nehemiah 12:44-47<\/a> \u2018The gift of worship\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Strictly speaking, I don\u2019t earn anything at all. I haven\u2019t done for 16 years now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What ministers get paid is called a \u2018stipend\u2019 rather than a \u2018salary\u2019. It\u2019s easy to forget why this matters. I\u2019ve often caught myself referring to my role in ways that suggest I earn a wage: if someone thanks me, I\u2019ll make a joke along the lines of, \u2018it\u2019s kind of you to say that, but I get paid to do this!\u2019 The thing is, though, I don\u2019t. A stipend is an allowance which ministers are granted precisely so that they don\u2019t have to earn a \u2018wage\u2019 \u2013 they can dedicate themselves to leading the people of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a subtle distinction, but its implications are profound, on multiple levels. First, it makes it clear that the minister\u2019s own spiritual life sits at the heart of what they \u2018do\u2019. We are led by<\/em> God, so that we can lead people to<\/em> God. Second, it reminds us that the work of God is not a transaction, but a calling. This applies to everyone, at one level \u2013 we are all<\/em> called in different ways. Ministers, though, are appointed and provided for in a way which places that calling at the very centre of their work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Third, and perhaps most importantly, it is about grace. Life is gift. All we are, and have, is a gift from God. We live in a way which reflects this: a grace-filled, gift-soaked life. In this case, we give generously to the community life of God\u2019s people, in order that our ministers can give their time and energy back to God, and to us, in order to lead us in the life and worship of that community. We don\u2019t pay \u2018subs to a club\u2019 \u2013 we gift our money, that others might gift their time back to us. It\u2019s all gift \u2013 or should be!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This practice has deep roots \u2013 it goes right back to the very earliest history of God\u2019s people. The Law given to Moses sets up the system to provide for Israel\u2019s leaders of worship \u2013 and it this which Nehemiah makes sure is put back in place, now that Jerusalem is functioning as a city (and a worship centre) again: (v44) \u2018contributions, firstfruits and tithes\u2019 to provide for the priests and Levites (their ministers), as well as the musicians and gatekeepers (their worship leaders and vergers).<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s worth noting that many of these people could earn their own money if they had to \u2013 they had fields to cultivate and, as we\u2019ll see tomorrow, when the \u2018stipends\u2019 weren\u2019t paid, they went back to them in order to earn their keep (13:10). But the contributions of the people, if given faithfully, ensured they didn\u2019t need to: they could dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to their calling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This Sunday at church is Stewardship Sunday \u2013 a moment in the year when we think about our financial generosity. It\u2019s tempting to encourage people in pragmatic terms: \u2018give x to the church, and the church can do y with it\u2019; or, dare I say, \u2018give us more, or we\u2019ll close!\u2019 To do so might \u2018work\u2019 at some level, but it\u2019s not the point, at least not how God had originally designed it. Life is gift \u2013 God gives generously to us, that we might give generously to others, that they might give generously back to us. The natural result of living like this would be \u2018praise and thanksgiving to God\u2019 (v46).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wouldn\u2019t it be wonderful to live like that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Day 21, Wednesday 16th September \u2013 Nehemiah 12:27-43<\/a> \u2018Days of celebration\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There is something wonderful about worshipping the Lord in a large gathering. I first experienced that powerfully at Easter 1999, when I attended Spring Harvest. Walking into the Big Top for the first evening celebration and realising there were 5,000 people there gave me goosebumps. I had never praised God in such a large crowd, and it was thrilling. People from all over the country, all walks of life, here for the sole purpose of worshipping the Lord\u2026 a foretaste of heaven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That kind of gathering \u2013 and maybe you have enjoyed something similar \u2013 is a good way into today\u2019s passage. At long last, we get to the big party! The wall is dedicated, an occasion which drew people from across the country: the Levites \u2018were sought out from where they lived\u2019 (v27); the musicians likewise (v28); the leaders of Judah were all there (v31) and were assigned the task of organising a procession along the top of the wall, along with massed choirs \u2013 one heading clockwise, the other anti-clockwise (vv31-39). When they met at the other sides they headed to the temple area for a combined celebration (v40): what a moment that must have been! All the toil and the tears, the worry and the work; now they could give thanks to the Lord who had inspired and overseen it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is very much in character that Nehemiah should have ensured this celebration took place. David Pawson insightfully reflects that Nehemiah \u2018was a happy man and encouraged others to be happy. It was Nehemiah who said, \u201cThe joy of the Lord is your strength.\u201d I don\u2019t think Ezra would ever have said that \u2013 he was too busy weeping over the people. In many ways they make a perfect couple. The \u201chelp\u201d and the \u201ccomfort\u201d belong together.\u2019 As evidence, Pawson reminds us that when the Law was read by Ezra (ch8), \u2018Ezra saw the situation as a time to weep, but Nehemiah was telling them to have a party\u2019 (see 8:9-10).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The point is: we need both<\/em>. Life is hard. The fact that it is hard means we do our fair share of weeping; but<\/em> it also means that times of rejoicing and celebration become more important than ever. We all need days like the one described in this passage. Special occasions to celebrate and to praise the Lord, above and beyond the normal points of our worshipping life \u2013 where \u2018the sound of rejoicing\u2026 could be heard far away\u2019 (v43). It is not a form of denial that life still has its challenges \u2013 we\u2019ll see plenty of those in ch13. It does, however, place those challenges in context, in the wider perspective of the continuing grace and faithfulness of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We may not have the chance for such a celebration today \u2013 but we can echo praise in our hearts, trusting that the Lord will likewise grant us a divinely-given joy, which is our strength \u2013 for this day, and every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Day 20, Tuesday 15th September \u2013 Nehemiah 11:21-12:26<\/a> \u2018A people of promise\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What are you like with lists? Did you find todays passage a fascinating journey through some exotic names and even more exotic places? Or a dreary trawl through meaningless information?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bible is full of lists; and we\u2019ve already seen several big lists in this little book so far: ch3, ch7, ch10 and even yesterday in the first half of ch11. This list, however, is a bit different, since it is probably an insertion into the book. The narrative runs smoothly from 11:20 to 12:27, so what is this additional \u2018sub-list\u2019 doing here?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The answer is that this little section connects the story of Nehemiah with the bigger biblical story. One of the key themes of scripture, and especially of the Old Testament, is God\u2019s faithfulness to his promises and to his people. The people, in contrast, are often faithless, but they cling on to the faithfulness of the Lord. The list of settlers we looked at yesterday is also found in 1 Chronicles 9:2-17 \u2013 albeit not in the same format and with some different names, so presumably both were drawn from some bigger list, perhaps kept in the archives at Jerusalem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Chronicles is all about the faithfulness of God, and the expectancy of the fulfilment of his promises. When was Israel going to be restored? What does a faithful covenant people look like? As Nehemiah records what looks like a dry list of names in 11:1-20, it triggers a memory in a later compiler (it\u2019s clear that this small section isn\u2019t written in the time of Nehemiah by the reference to him in the third person in 12:26, as well as the reference to Darius \u2013 see below). This is the story of the people of promise \u2013 a people still waiting for their deliverance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are two interesting details which would escape our notice without the help of the scholars. The first is that the towns of Judah referenced in 11:25-34 cover a wider area than the actual province of Judah at the time. This might be considered \u2018wishful thinking\u2019 \u2013 more likely, it is a declaration of faith and hope that the land would one day be fully restored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the inclusion of the priests who returned with Zerubbabel decades before Ezra and Nehemiah (12:1-21), as well as those in the time of \u2018Darius the Persian\u2019 (v22, probably Darius II who ruled a couple of decades after Nehemiah) \u2013 in other words a period of more than 100 years \u2013 makes it clear that this list has a theological significance. This is the record of faithful worship and service rendered to the Lord over generations, as is testified by the reference to praise and thanksgiving in 12:24. <\/p>\n\n\n\n God is not done with his people yet; nor, from this list, are the people done with God. Nehemiah is ultimately a book about spiritual renewal, and not just a textbook for wise leadership and project management; about worship, and not just a wall. Today, take a few moments to offer your own \u2018praise and thanksgiving\u2019 to our amazing, faithful God; and commit yourself again to serve this Lord in this generation, as our spiritual ancestors did in theirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Day 19, Monday 14th September \u2013 Nehemiah 11:1-20<\/a> \u2018National lot-tery\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n That title got your attention, didn\u2019t it? A reflection on the National Lottery? Well, yes, in fact \u2013 the original national lottery: today\u2019s passage describes those families who were chosen to settle in Jerusalem. The method for selection was casting lots, and those included were drawn from across the country \u2013 hence national lottery. Imagine neighbours looking at each other as the lots were drawn, thinking: it could be you?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s rewind a little: after the completion of the wall and the renewing of the covenant, there still remained a very practical problem \u2013 not enough people were actually living in Jerusalem to make it defensible or indeed to serve as a true capital. Fresh blood was needed, which could only be derived from other parts of the country. The leaders led by example \u2013 v1 tells us that they settled in Jerusalem regardless. However, more families were needed. How to choose? They cast lots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If this seems strange, a bit of biblical context is useful at this point. Casting lots is a frequently mentioned practice in scripture, going all the way back to the giving of the law (first mentioned in Leviticus 16:8). The worldview of the Old Testament is that God is in control of everything, everything happens according to His will, and thus God allows the Israelites to cast lots in order to determine His will for a particular situation. Indeed, Joshua used the practice numerous times to allocate the land in the original settlement hundreds of years previously; so, it was the natural solution for the people of Nehemiah\u2019s day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not surprisingly, those who were chosen and obeyed the decision were \u2018commended\u2019 for doing so (v2) \u2013 presumably very few of them would have chosen to leave their ancestral land and their community connections. By faith they understood, though, that it was the will of the Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The practice of casting lots continues throughout scripture right up to the choosing of Matthias as the new twelfth apostle just before the Day of Pentecost (Acts 1:26). It is noteworthy, however, that this is the last mention of the practice: once the Spirit is poured out on all believers, we no longer need such methods to make decisions; we can be guided into all truth (John 16:13). We can also observe that the practice, once stripped of its religious motives, quickly became associated with gambling \u2013 most soberingly at the foot of the cross, where the soldiers cast lots for Jesus\u2019 clothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You probably didn\u2019t find this passage the most thrilling read \u2013 but there is a profound point lying under the surface. This seemingly random process led to a dramatic life change for thousands of people; all faithful, all trusting the Lord \u2013 and yet called to something they probably didn\u2019t wish or expect. God\u2019s will surprised them, and they must have journeyed to Jerusalem with all their belongings, faced with a clear choice: to trust and obey, or to resent and complain. Perhaps you have faced a similar moment in life, when you sense that God has shut one door you wished had remained open, and maybe opened another that you didn\u2019t really want. Perhaps you find yourself in this place now. The call to trust suddenly seems painful. Yet, the message of scripture is that all such trust is rewarded: God always repays. If you find yourself in unexpected territory, pray for grace to accept, even to embrace \u2013 the Lord works all things to good for those who love him. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Day 18, Saturday 12th September \u2013 Nehemiah 9:38-10:39<\/a> \u2018The power of God\u2019s Word (4) \u2013 Commitment\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018In view of all this\u2026\u2019 And so, we get to the heart of the prayer. After a long and detailed confession of the people\u2019s rebellious ways, their repentance is manifested in a \u2018binding agreement\u2019, witnessed by their spiritual leaders (10:1-27). True conviction and confession always ends in commitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Indeed, the word repentance, which we often equate to \u2018saying sorry\u2019, really means \u2018change your life\u2019. For the people of Nehemiah\u2019s day, this was reflected in a series of very practical commitments relating to marriage (v30), Sabbath (v31), resourcing their worshipping life properly (vv32-34), and generosity (vv35-39). All core components of the Law, which were often neglected but which were integral to their distinctiveness (i.e. holiness) as the chosen people of the one true God, Yahweh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although it is rare for us to make detailed practical commitments in our confession prayers, we do reflect those intentions in a general sense in many of our standard prayers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Grant that we may serve you in newness of life, to the glory of your name.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018That we may act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with you, our God.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n Or, to return to the prayer we quoted a few days ago: \u2018Grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of thy holy Name.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n As close our week, and this shorter reflection, take a few minutes to reflect on what repentance looks like for you today. Maybe it\u2019s not a case of making specific commitments; or maybe there might be value in doing so \u2013 as long as we hold fast to the Lord\u2019s grace, and live in freedom rather than condemnation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What we do understand at a much deeper level than those praying this prayer more than 2,000 years ago, is that this kind of transformation can only<\/em> be achieved by the Holy Spirit working in us. So, as we choose to serve the Lord today, pray for a fresh infilling of grace, poured out by the Holy Spirit, to live out your commitments. And in all things may we abide in Him, bearing much fruit, to the glory of His name. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Day 17, Friday 11th September \u2013 Nehemiah 9:26-37<\/a> \u2018Cycles of sin\u2026 and grace\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Someone once said that the definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result each time. I don\u2019t know if that\u2019s true, but it\u2019s certainly a decent definition of human nature. We do the same thing over and over, intending to change\u2026 only to find the cycle repeating again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second part the people\u2019s great prayer of confession, which we\u2019re covering today, certainly makes that very clear. Time and again God blesses the people; time and again they turn away and disobey, bringing disaster on themselves in the process; at which point they return to God, who mercifully forgives and blesses them once more\u2026 only for the people to disobey, and so the cycle repeats again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This pattern has been evident throughout the history of God\u2019s people. The Book of Judges is probably the most sobering read in the bible, precisely for this reason. Every time a Judge is raised up by God and rescues a wayward people, they soon turn back to their wicked ways \u2013 leading them to cry out again to God\u2026 and so on, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 700 years after the time of the Judges, it seems the penny has finally dropped. The people in Nehemiah\u2019s time not only make this amazing prayer to God, they also give a wonderful summary of the story of God\u2019s people \u2013 a story of disobedience and grace. Now they find themselves again at the bottom of the cycle (vv36-37) \u2013 but<\/em> they know who the Lord is, they understand his character: (v32) \u2018the great God, mighty and awesome, who keeps his covenant of love.\u2019 They ask God to be gracious again; to rescue and restore them again, trusting in this great God who \u2018delivered them time after time\u2019 (v28).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, we may feel that we make this kind of prayer so often. A repeating cycle \u2013 can God possibly forgive this time? The answer is yes \u2013 not because of who we are, but because of who He is<\/em>. Our God is the same yesterday, today and forever. His mercy always triumphs over the judgement we deserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, seize that truth again, and claim the forgiveness which none of us merit, but the Lord graciously bestows upon us. And may we live in the kindness of this God, reflecting that kindness to others. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Day 16, Thursday 10th September \u2013 <\/u><\/strong>Nehemiah 9:1-25<\/strong><\/a> \u2018The power of God\u2019s Word (3) \u2013 Confession\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Confession is good for the soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also a practice which has become increasingly unfashionable in modern culture, where the word sin is often seen as an outdated concept. If there is such a thing as sin, it\u2019s something like not being true to yourself \u2013 whatever that means! <\/p>\n\n\n\n The primary issue, of course, is that sin is a word which finds its meaning and importance in relation to God. It is a spiritual problem and not just a moral or ethical or \u2018lifestyle\u2019 one. As society has secularised, so we find ways around it: different language, alternative categories\u2026 or we blame our genes or our experiences (and those are influences, but not justifications). This is in stark contrast to our pre-modern culture. Consider the words of the confession in the Book of Common Prayer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep, we have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts, we have offended against thy holy laws, we have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done. And there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders; spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults, restore thou them that are penitent, according to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesu our Lord; and grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is the standard confession at both Morning and Evening prayer. In other words, a devout Anglican in years gone by would have said this twice a day, or up to fourteen times a week, or as many as 730 times a year! As my old vicar used to say, when you say the prayer book confessions, you are properly confessed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Taking confession seriously, however, is not a question of fashion, it lies rooted in scripture. Our passage for today is the first part of an immense act of confession (which lasts all the way to the end of chapter 10). It is a significant moment, and therefore at one level, not \u2018normal\u2019 \u2013 it involved fasting and changes to the peoples\u2019 appearance (v1), as well as a distinction between the original chosen people and those who had joined the community (v2). It took a long time (v3) and was led by a large number of leaders (vv4-5).<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, it was also setting a benchmark which was<\/em> normative from this point on. God\u2019s people were going to try and obey God \u2013 this great God who made everything (vv5-6), had chosen them (vv7-8), saved them (vv7-11), led them (v12), spoken to them (vv13-15), forgiven them (v17), taught them (v20), provided for them (vv20-21) and blessed them (vv22-26).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tomorrow, we\u2019ll see how the repeating pattern of sin, disaster, repentance and renewal pave the way for a renewal of this covenant. Today, though, let\u2019s marvel at God\u2019s love, patience and mercy \u2013 lavished not just on the Israelites, but us<\/em>. And may that lead us into both gratitude and confession, and ultimately to a renewed life which brings glory to \u2018thy holy Name\u2019. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wednesday 9th September \u2013 John 16:7-11<\/a> \u2018Deep conviction\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Since we looked at the biblical idea of \u2018conviction\u2019 yesterday, today is another reflection from John\u2019s gospel on that theme:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n July 25th 1982. Just a normal Sunday. I went to church with my family, to (what we then called) the Family Service. My Dad was giving the talk, about Jesus meeting Nicodemus in John chapter 3. It was the days of Overhead Projectors (OHPs \u2013 remember them?!), and he showed this acetate of a wooden cross. When he got to the text, \u2018Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness,\u2019 he overlaid a second acetate with a picture of a snake, which was now wrapped around the cross. Then he completed the verse: \u2018so the Son of Man must lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n At this point, he removed the snake and instead placed a third acetate over the cross \u2013 this time of Jesus. And suddenly I understood. Jesus had died for me<\/em>. Not just for the world, for me. I was no more or less religiously-minded than most children; the chief attraction of church on Sundays was playing football in the church hall after the service! But at that moment, just before my tenth birthday, I knew something profound had happened. I prayed directly to Jesus, I think perhaps for the first time; and I made a mental note to remember that day, because on that day my life changed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then, but I still remember that family service from over forty years ago. And what I experienced is what countless others have through the ages, and what Jesus speaks about in today\u2019s passage. I came under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Conviction is more than just revelation. The modern NIV translation renders it \u2018prove the world to be in the wrong,\u2019 but that doesn\u2019t quite cut it either. Conviction is revelation which fundamentally touches our hearts and changes our mind. It compels us to change. What others experience as \u2018just words\u2019 seem to be given specifically and directly to us, to transform our lives immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the work of the Holy Spirit. In particular, the Holy Spirit will convict people in regard to \u2018sin and righteousness and judgement\u2019 (v8). If this sounds negative \u2013 where\u2019s the love of Jesus, or the peace that comes from knowing him, you might be thinking? \u2013 then we should never forget that we need a Saviour. Without sin there\u2019s no grace. Without grace, there\u2019s no gospel, no good news. We only truly understand the love of Jesus when we know what he has saved us from. We only truly know the peace of Jesus when we fully grasp that, because of Jesus, God\u2019s just judgement has been fulfilled and \u2018the prince of this world now stands condemned\u2019 (v11). Whatever we face in this life, our future is secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I can\u2019t explain why it was that day in 1982 when the Holy Spirit first deeply convicted me. I\u2019m sure people were praying! But this I know \u2013 it was real, and true, and good. It\u2019s what the Holy Spirit does, and is still doing, all around the world, every day, every minute. Today, let\u2019s give thanks for our own journeys, those moments of conviction in our lives. And let\u2019s also pray with faith for that same conviction to be at work in those we love, and those we\u2019ll never meet. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Day 15, Tuesday 8th September \u2013 Nehemiah 8:9-18<\/a> \u2018The power of God\u2019s Word (2) \u2013 Conviction\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n God\u2019s word has a power all of its own. The bible is full of references to its own efficacy: think of Isaiah 55:11 \u2013 \u2018my word does not return to me empty\u2019 \u2013 or Hebrews 4:12 \u2013 \u2018the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword\u2026 it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n No surprise, then, that a whole morning of listening to scripture produced a profound effect on the large crowd gathered by the Water Gate (and let\u2019s note in passing that they were not<\/em> meeting in the temple area, just in a large square by the city limits \u2013 a reminder that God\u2019s people can gather anywhere to meet with the Lord, and God\u2019s word can have its effect anywhere, too.) This profound effect is a work of God\u2019s Spirit and is what Jesus later called \u2018conviction\u2019 (John 16:8).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Conviction is more than just understanding; it is revelation which fundamentally touches our hearts and changes our mind, compelling us to change. What others experience as \u2018just words\u2019 seem to be given specifically and directly to us, to transform our lives immediately. For the people gathered listening to Ezra, this was experienced both as sadness and joy: the deep realisation of just how far they had fallen short of God\u2019s plan for their lives led them to weep (v9); the encouragement that the Lord in his mercy and grace had given them a fresh start, and renewed their lives and their community, led into joy and celebration (v12).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Indeed, in v10 of this passage, we get the famous phrase \u2013 which nobody ever remembers is in Nehemiah, of all places! \u2013 \u2018the joy of the Lord is your strength.\u2019 There\u2019s a phrase to fill our hearts today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Conviction, though, also requires more than just our emotions and resolutions; it requires action. It is one thing to know we need to change; it is another to actually try and do it. In this case, the people realised that a major festival required by the Law was not being celebrated (v17) \u2013 and they were in the exact season in which they should be celebrating it (v14). So, they acted: they made shelters, and, for the first time in generations, celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles. By the way, this is now known as Sukkot and is still practised annually today \u2013 in 2026 it will be commemorated from 25th September until 2nd October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve come a long way from repairing a wall, haven\u2019t we? This chapter conveys some of the energy, the passion, which was stirring God\u2019s people, as they rediscovered who they were. We, too, need regularly to \u2018rediscover\u2019 who we are in Christ; to be gripped again by the power of God\u2019s word, and the conviction of His Spirit. Maybe that\u2019s a word for you today; or maybe it\u2019s to reflect: where is God\u2019s word particularly speaking to you at the moment? Either way, pray for grace to act on your convictions; and may the joy of the Lord always be your strength, this day and every day. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Day 14, Monday 7th September \u2013 Nehemiah 7:73-8:8<\/a> \u2018The power of God\u2019s Word (1) \u2013 Clarity\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What does a society need to thrive? It\u2019s a question we ask ourselves a lot nowadays. Despite rapid advances in technology, medicine and global infrastructure, many cultures seem stuck in a slow but steady downward spiral. It\u2019s a question which also lies at the heart of Nehemiah\u2019s great work. As we have observed, this was always about more than a wall. It was the renewal of a nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By the start of chapter 8, a huge amount has been achieved \u2013 the defences are more or less secure, leaders have been appointed, and a great programme of resettlement has been started\u2026 but something crucial is missing. It is this that Nehemiah and the Jews\u2019 spiritual leaders attend to next, and it forms the heart of the next section of this remarkable book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For centuries, Israel had a pattern of festivals: centred in Jerusalem, these were designed for the whole people to spend time worshipping the Lord together. Since the exile more than a century previously, such festivals had been largely abandoned. However, about fourteen years before Nehemiah, Ezra the priest had arrived in Jerusalem and begun the process of spiritual renewal. (We haven\u2019t mentioned Ezra much, but it\u2019s worth noting that these two books belong together \u2013 and rightly so, as Ezra means \u2018help\u2019 and Nehemiah means \u2018comfort\u2019. Nehemiah is effectively the second half of the \u2018renewal story\u2019.) Ezra\u2019s work was groundbreaking, but without a secure city its scope was limited. Now it was possible to be more ambitious: so, come the autumn of Nehemiah\u2019s first year (\u2018the seventh month\u2019 is roughly September), the first great gathering took place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The heart of this gathering was the public reading of scripture to the whole assembly (v3). Ezra the priest read from daybreak until noon, while the people listened. There are some key details which should not escape us: first the initiative came from the people. This is not \u2018religion imposed from above\u2019 \u2013 the people \u2018told Ezra\u2019 to read the bible to them! Our engagement with scripture begins with enthusiasm to hear and receive it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, there is something special about studying the bible together, corporately. Of course, there is great value in personal study \u2013 I wouldn\u2019t be writing these reflections otherwise! \u2013 but the word of God also needs to be read publicly, to reach a whole people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Third, this study takes place best in an environment of worship and adoration (see v6). It is not just an exercise of the head \u2013 though our minds must be similarly devoted \u2013 it is an exercise of the heart: \u2018Amen! Amen!\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alongside this reading came explanation: (v8) \u2018making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.\u2019 The task of Israel\u2019s spiritual leaders was not just to read scripture but to teach it \u2013 to bring clarity. How we need this today! To return to our initial question, many have wondered if we have become like the people of Amos\u2019 time: a culture which suffers a \u2018famine of hearing the words of the Lord\u2019 (Amos 8:11). Into this vacuum comes not only secular worldviews, but \u2013 perhaps more dangerously \u2013 distortions of a truly biblical worldview, where the word of God is distorted to serve a purpose. The only \u2018cure\u2019 for this is to immerse ourselves in scripture again: to sit under it in humility, rather than over it in judgement, and to experience the true renovation of the heart which comes as a result. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, let\u2019s finish with the great prayer for the Second Sunday in Advent \u2013 written by Cranmer in the 1540s but just as needed today: \u2018Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n Saturday 5th September \u2013 Psalm 17<\/a> \u2018The Apple\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Jesus loves you\u2026. but I\u2019m his favourite.\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n I remember a Christian leader sharing in a talk that he would love to wear a T-shirt like that, with \u2018Jesus loves you\u2019 on the front, and \u2018but I\u2019m his favourite\u2019 on the back! Whatever you think of that, from either a sartorial or an evangelistic point of view, the point he was making was quite profound. He was preaching on a passage from the gospel of John, which refers to \u2018the disciple whom Jesus loved\u2019. Many people think this is John himself \u2013 but you can also read it as a way of us (or any reader) entering the story personally. You<\/em> are the disciple Jesus loves. I am the disciple Jesus loves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We are familiar with the idea that God loves us \u2013 but not all of us are comfortable with the idea that God actually likes<\/em> us. We can imagine God\u2019s love as the sort of stoic act of will often seen in previous generations: he loves us because he\u2019s God, he has to \u2013 but like? Why would God like me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n This psalm contains many similar themes that we encounter in lots of David\u2019s psalms. Troubles, enemies, pleas for vindication and judgement\u2026. but there is one extraordinary verse in the middle: in fact the exact middle, verse 8 of 15 (a perfect 7 before and 7 after): \u2018Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n The \u2018apple of your eye\u2019 appears as a phrase five times in the Old Testament: three times it refers to God\u2019s view of the nation of Israel (i.e. his people as a whole), and once to how we should view God\u2019s law. Only here do we find it applied to one individual. David is not praying as a \u2018nation\u2019 but as a person. Keep me, Lord, he prays, as the apple of your eye. (And note: David knows that he already is \u2013 he prays \u2018keep me\u2019, not \u2018make me\u2019.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n We may not always see eye to eye with the more vengeful bits of David\u2019s psalms. But his relationship with the Lord has something amazing to teach us in this respect: his childlike confidence in God\u2019s love \u2013 and that similarly childlike sense that his divine parent not only loves him conditionally, he actually likes<\/em> him. God thinks he\u2019s amazing, and when he\u2019s in trouble, he comes back to that. He knows that, whatever is going on, God is not punishing him (apart from Psalm 51, but that\u2019s for another time). It\u2019s just life \u2013 and his divine parent, who sees him personally as the apple of his eye, will see him through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I want that kind of relationship with the Lord. I want that assurance of knowing that I am the apple of God\u2019s eye. Perhaps you do, too. So, today, why not spend a few moments with this verse? Pray for grace to believe that God doesn\u2019t just love you, he likes you as well. And may you live from that place of unfailing love today, hidden in the shadow of his wings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Friday 4th September \u2013 Psalm 16<\/a> \u2018The Portion\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We take another brief break from Nehemiah to enjoy a couple of Psalms (today and tomorrow):<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Just a small portion for me.\u2019 These are words I utter quite often at our family meals; I do love food, but I don\u2019t have a particularly big appetite, so if there\u2019s a pudding available, my desire to enjoy it is tempered by my modest appetite \u2013 so I\u2019ll compromise with these words: \u2018Just a small portion, please.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n The point is, it doesn\u2019t matter what size the portion is: what you really want is enough<\/em>. That might be a large portion, a medium-sized one, or a small one: if it\u2019s enough, then it\u2019s just right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And that helps to explain this lovely, but slightly odd, phrase in today\u2019s psalm, written by King David: (v5) \u2018Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup.\u2019 To our ears, we might find ourselves wondering: \u2018well, we don\u2019t know if that\u2019s a good thing, because we don\u2019t know if it\u2019s large portion or a small one \u2013 what if David only gets a small slice of the cake?! More to the point, what if we only get a small portion from God, too?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n The point isn\u2019t the size of the portion: the point is that it\u2019s enough. God\u2019s grace is always sufficient, and whatever he gives us is what we need. For David, God\u2019s portion to him offered security: \u2018in you I take refuge\u2026 you make my lot secure\u2026 I shall not be shaken\u2019 (v1, v5, v8). It offered hope: \u2018surely I have a delightful inheritance\u2019 (v6). It offered wisdom: \u2018I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me\u2019 (v7).<\/p>\n\n\n\n This psalm is often read at a burial, because it is one of the first to acknowledge the reality of eternal life. Early Jewish tradition was agnostic about the idea as to whether there was life after death, or whether God\u2019s blessings are only for this life. One of David\u2019s most precious pieces of counsel from the Lord \u2013 right here in this psalm \u2013 is that God\u2019s portion reaches beyond the grave, offering us eternal life: or, as he puts it, \u2018eternal pleasures at your right hand\u2019 (v11). Peter quoted Psalm 16\u2019s promise of resurrection in his Pentecost sermon (Acts 2:25-28) \u2013 but it\u2019s not only Jesus who receives the glorious promises at the end of this psalm; thanks to Jesus, it\u2019s us, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow \u2013 as the great old hymn puts it \u2013 this<\/em> is the Lord\u2019s portion to David. This is also the Lord\u2019s portion to us. The size doesn\u2019t matter: what matters is that it is enough. God\u2019s portion control is always just right. Great is his faithfulness!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Day 13, Thursday 3rd September \u2013 Nehemiah 7:4-73<\/a> \u2018Each to their own town\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Before I was a minister, I was a market researcher. This was at a time when my kids were very young, and had no idea what sort of job their daddy had. So, when I came home from work and they asked me what I did, I said: \u2018Counting. Daddy does counting for a living.\u2019 Which was basically true, albeit I imagine they sometimes wondered how anyone could get paid for listing numbers up to ten! (For the record, I did go a bit higher than ten\u2026 sometimes.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Counting is definitely something we find a lot of in the bible. The bible is full of lists of numbers; indeed, there\u2019s a whole book of them which has that very name. Nehemiah chapter 7 is another great example of this value placed upon numbers of people. Genealogies really mattered to the Israelites, and here we have a long list of all the descendants of various families who had returned from exile (or in some cases may never have left).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reason is made clear at the start of today\u2019s passage: (v4) \u2018Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not been rebuilt.\u2019 Not surprisingly, nobody wanted to live in a defenceless city which was surrounded by enemies. But the city had walls now; so, Nehemiah made it his priority \u2013 inspired by God (v5) \u2013 to get those families to return. How? Certainly not by bribery, threat or even \u2018marketing\u2019. He used a much more effective strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s where we need a bit of context. When the Israelites first settled in the Promised Land, every family was given a parcel of land, as theirs in perpetuity. Sometimes land was sold or taken by other families; however, the Jubilee every fifty years was meant to undo all such imbalances, whereby the land was restored to each family. Sadly, the testimony of the prophets throughout the history of Israel indicate that the Jubilee was unlikely to ever have been practised \u2013 human greed being what it is \u2013 however, those records of which families owned what still remained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nehemiah found those records (v5), cross-referenced this against the current population, and consequently made a comprehensive list of who was meant to live where \u2013 by family. This is the long list in verses 8-69, and what is fascinating is that this list extends well beyond Jerusalem. It covers the whole country: (v6) \u2018each to his own town\u2019 \u2013 repeated at the very end of the chapter: (v73) the \u2018Israelites settled in their own towns.\u2019 It is a grand vision to repopulate the land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the face if it, what is there for us today? Is this just an interesting but curious relic of Old Testament history? At face value, maybe\u2026 but there is something powerful here about roots. Where we come from shapes us, for good or ill, and we never entirely leave those roots behind. Jesus was ultimately rejected at Nazareth \u2013 but it\u2019s insightful to observe that he went there early in his ministry. He began from his roots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the modern world, many of us leave home and live elsewhere; we also grow and develop in different ways, and much of this is good. But roots matter \u2013 they matter to us, and also to God. Today, spend a few moments reflecting on your roots. What did God form in you through them? How does he use them in you now? And let\u2019s pray that God works our roots to good, just as He works all things to good, that we may bloom where we\u2019re planted today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Day 12, Wednesday 2nd September \u2013 Nehemiah 6:15-7:3<\/a> \u2018Completed! \u2013 and continuing\u2026\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n What joy it must have been to write those words! Even better, to actually see<\/em> the rebuilt wall; to walk around inside its perimeter, knowing that the city was secure; to celebrate with those who had put in so much hard work, had risked their lives and chosen to trust both God and their inspired leader, Nehemiah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So why doesn\u2019t the book of Nehemiah finish here? This was the great task, but it\u2019s only less than halfway into the book. There\u2019s a long way to go yet! And that, surely is the point: Nehemiah\u2019s vision was about much more than the wall \u2013 it may have begun like that, but ultimately it was about the renewing of a nation. The wall was the necessary first step, without which nothing else could be achieved; however, it was only the first step towards the bigger goal \u2013 a task which took not just 52 days, but 12 years, and counting (see 5:14).<\/p>\n\n\n\n This sense of now\u2026 and not yet \u2013 or completed\u2026 and continuing \u2013 is reflected even in our modern bible translations, some of which put v15 at the end of one section, whilst others put it at the start of the next section. Which is it? Again, I think those scholarly debates about the textual flow reflect the much more important point: this is not the end, it is not even the beginning of the end; but it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning. As someone once said. (Bonus point if you know who, when and why.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, what is most striking is how little time is taken here to pause and celebrate the completion of the wall \u2013 that will come later. We simply get a short note (v16) that its completion shook their enemies, who saw that the Lord was helping His people. After that, we\u2019re back into the thick of the challenge \u2013 nobles who are still under the sway of Tobiah, and the latter\u2019s continuing attempts at intimidation (vv17-19).<\/p>\n\n\n\n None of this is going to stop Nehemiah from pressing on, though; he is not someone to rest on his laurels, he immediately starts putting the next stage of the plans in place: appointing key officials. His prioritising is instructive: first the gatekeepers (absolutely vital for the new fortifications, which had to be stewarded safely at all costs); then the worship leaders \u2013 for this is first and foremost a worshipping people. And then<\/em> the city leadership \u2013 at which point some of you will be raising eyebrows at the appointment of Nehemiah\u2019s brother. Nepotism? I don\u2019t think so: bear in mind it was Hanani who had travelled all the way to Susa to tell his brother what was happening in Jerusalem; then factor in all those who were already under the influence of Jerusalem\u2019s enemies (see vv17-19), and the pool of trustworthy people must have been small.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The clincher is the next appointment \u2013 Hananiah \u2013 appointed \u2018because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do.\u2019 Nehemiah is not handing out \u2018jobs for the boys\u2019; his priorities are character and depth of faith. It\u2019s hard to do better than that \u2013 yet another leadership blueprint for today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This side of glory, the work of the kingdom is always: now\u2026 and not yet; Jesus\u2019 great work on the cross is complete \u2013 and yet always continuing, as the gospel spreads across the world and into ever more human hearts. Today, take a moment to pray for the Lord\u2019s kingdom work to continue, in whatever places it intersects with your life; and pray for the leaders of that work, that they may have grace to see the fruit of their labours, and still to persevere, however near or far the finish line is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n