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A SWORD AND A TROWEL

Nehemiah is an incredible figure in the Bible, and his story amazes me because of its relevance for today.   It speaks to me on many levels, but mostly about how important it is for me to know God’s will, get under the burdens that are close to His heart, and do the work that He has called me to do.   Nehemiah was among those Jews who were living in Babylon because of King Nebuchadnezzar destroying the city of Jerusalem in 593 B.C.  He was born in Persia to parents who were part of the Jewish exile.  At some point, he was enlisted into service in the palace of the King, and, so, became the King’s cupbearer - a position of importance.  While in this service, word came to him from some who had returned from Jerusalem, that the people were in great affliction, and the walls of the city were broken down, and the gates burned with fire.  The news so affected Nehemiah that he sat down and wept, and mourned, and didn’t eat for days; but, more importantly, he p...
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THE SIGN OF HIS COMING

During Jesus’ last visit to Jerusalem before His passion, His disciples were awed by the splendor of Herod’s Temple.   Jesus told them plainly that the temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed one day in the future.   He said not one stone would remain standing upon another.   It was statements such as these that offended the Jewish leaders, especially when He told them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19; see also Mark 14:58).   To the priests and doctors of the Law this sounded outright blasphemous!     Understandably, Jesus’ disciples were curious about His statement and asked Him about it privately.  They wanted to know exactly when this would happen and what sign would mark the Lord’s return.  The Lord gave a very detailed answer to His disciples, identifying the signs and events that would lead up to His final appearance.   “And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him p...
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A WAY TO ESCAPE

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. ” (1 Corinthians 10:13).    For Christians, temptation is an unpleasant, humbling, and stressful experience.   When we are tempted, we tend to think of ourselves as weak and inferior to other believers who surely don’t struggle with such things to the degree that we do.   Afterwards, we may feel guilty or unclean even if we have not followed the temptation and committed a sin.   It’s not unusual, either, for believers to be attacked in their dreams by images of themselves doing things that they would abhor in their waking hours.   They wake up feeling like they have sinned against the Lord, and they weep and repent for what they feel they have done.     Every temptation that we experience is just the resul...
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