Nehemiah's Formula

¹⁶ The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.
¹⁷ Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” ¹⁸ I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.
They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.  Nehemiah 2:16-18

Observant
We have been working our way through Nehemiah for our family devotions and came to this passage today.  It generated some good discussion for us about leadership and how to meet a challenge.  Did you see what he did?

• He prayed (That actually happened in Chapter 1)
• He planned
• He stated the problem
• He gave a challenge
• He gave a vision for what would be accomplished when the challenge was met
• He recognized God's work in the situation

Journey
What a great formula.  How often do I skip one of these steps?  How often do I get them out of order?  I'm embarrassed by how often I neglect to recognize God's work and seek my own praise.  Today I am thankful for family devotions, for Nehemiah, and for what God is teaching me.

The Bad, the Good, the Former Life

For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.   I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.  Galatians 1:13-14

Observant
I have grown up hearing many times of the radical transformation of Paul from Saul, the one who persecuted and tried to destroy the church.  It was a radical transformation to be sure.  Something new has become part of the picture.  In the first chapter of Galatians, Paul is characterizing his previous life and  admits to that whole destroying the church thing.  However he goes on to speak of his former self in what seem like positive terms - advancing in Judaism, exceeding his peers and passionate about traditions.  These are qualities that many would have recognized as good, but Paul discovered came up short.

Journey
I've always liked the church.  I certainly have never sought to destroy it.  I get along well with most Christians.  The worst I've ever wished on anyone was a bad rash.  I do pretty well at obeying the 10 Commandments.  How then do I identify with Paul?  I think it's in my own claims to "goodness."  I could write similar words to his.  I was advancing in Nazareneness, following rules pretty well when compared to those around me.  I was untouchable when it came to outward signs of ritual holiness and possessed a relationship with Christ that I inherited from my parents . . . but I still needed Christ.  I, like Paul, have no goodness of my own.  I need Christ and His sacrifice.

More Than a Beard

Scripture
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ² And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  Ephesians 5:1-2

Observant
A friend of mine recently put out a plea for someone to play Jesus for their VBS dramas.  I told her that I had been working on my Jesus for a long time, but I wouldn't be available to help.  As I reflected on the notion of getting in the character of Jesus, I thought about the guy in my church growing up that played Jesus every year in the Easter play.  About Thanksgiving he would begin to let his hair and his beard grow in preparation for the program.  People would make comments like, "Time to grow the beard so you make a good Jesus." 

Journey
I knew the guy well enough to know that he emulated more characteristics of Jesus than long hair and a beard.  The fact is that we are all charged to look like Jesus, whether we have facial hair or not - or any hair at all for that matter.  I watched a famous impressionist on the Tonight Show once who was asked by Johnny Carson, "How do you do such a great job imitating these people?"  His answer was that he does three things in order to do a great imitation.

1.  Take away everything that is myself.
2.  Learn everything you can about the person.
He then said, "If I can do the third one, I have it nailed."
3.  Spend time with the person. 

I think what he nailed was how to imitate Christ.  

Unselfish Bride

Scripture
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  Philippians 2:3-4

The Observant Part
I have a 92 year old friend who lives in an assisted care facility.  She is finding it more and more difficult to muster the energy to perform daily tasks.  I learned today that her granddaughter from out of town is getting married on Saturday - at the assisted care facility.

The Journey Part
Many brides dream and plan for their wedding day for years.  They dream of the colors, the dress, the reception, the songs, and every detail that will make the day perfect.  Parks, country chapels, cathedrals, banquet halls, even backyards become part of these dreams.  But an assisted living facility?  I've seen humility.  I've seen valuing others.  I've seen putting aside selfish interests and I like it.

Sender and Receiver

Scripture
Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— ² and all the brothers and sisters with me,
To the churches in Galatia:

³ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴ who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, ⁵ to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.  Galatians 1:1-5

The Observant Part

Did you notice the sender and receiver information in this letter to the churches in Galatia? I'm not referring to the customary "to" and "from" that is in all letters.  I'm talking about the fact that Paul calls himself an apostle SENT "by Jesus Christ and God the Father."  He also makes it clear that he is sent as a result of what he has RECEIVED - "the Lord, Jesus Christ who gave himself for our sins."

The Journey Part
I have received an incredible gift from God - salvation through Jesus Christ.  That not only gives me a destiny, but a mission.  It is the mission that Jesus gave all of His disciples to go and make disciples.  I am thankful to be sent, because I am thankful for what I have received.