- And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem. Nehemiah 11:2 – This chapter retells for us all who chose to stay and live in the rebuilt city of Jerusalem. Our verse speaks highly of the leaders who willingly offered to live there. Why did they speak so highly of them like this? What they were choosing to do, to stay and continue building and growing the holy city, wasn’t going to be easy. They would be changing everything about their lives and as they had already encountered, there was to be great opposition to their work. They chose to stay and chose to keep building. Know just like the people in our passage, God sees the sacrifices that you are making in order to pursue Him faithfully. He sees the challenges you face and the offerings you willingly give. Keep up the good work knowing that it’s not unseen by God. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1293
- Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten remained in the other towns. 2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem. Nehemiah 11:1-2 – Our chapter gives us the names of the individuals that stayed in Jerusalem. From our passages, we’re seeing a tone that it wasn’t the preferred thing to remain in Jerusalem. They had to cast lots on who would stay, and whoever willing offered to stay the rest of the people blessed and were grateful for. Yet why would there have been this reluctance to staying in the holy city of Jerusalem? Because it meant a lot of work still. Yes, some big pieces like the temple and the city wall was up, but the city was far from thriving. On top of that, the surrounding peoples of Jerusalem were enraged at the city being rebuilt and were constantly threatening the city and it’s people. Staying meant work. Often though the most worth it things in this life requires a staying to make things work. A marriage will need both people staying to make it work. A family needs people staying and working together to make it work. A church to see it reach what God is calling it to be will need people staying and working rather than leaving. The question then that ought to be asked of ourselves is am I willing to be one that remains and works or am I one that sees the future effort needed from me and checks out? Am I willing to stay in whatever isn’t finished yet in my life, even if it means work from me? Is it worth it to you? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2514
Daily DEVO 