Nehemiah: God's Invitation to RebuildSample

Sacrifice

Nehemiah, like Daniel and Esther, served under a powerful king who was not of Jewish descent. His trust and rapport with the king prepared and protected him as he carried out God's calling on his life.

Following Zerubbabel's rebuilding of the temple and Ezra leading the Jewish people back to Jerusalem, Nehemiah set out to rebuild the wall. During this time, because of the over-taxation of the poor and sheer desperation, many resorted to selling their children into slavery. Nehemiah's response to the people's turmoil was not indifferent, rather it was sacrificial. A trust in God's provision is at the core of Nehemiah's willingness to sacrifice his income for the sake of his community. He feared God so much that he recognized his role as a steward. Everything he owned was God’s, not his.

What would happen if our mindset was similar to Nehemiah’s? What if we viewed ourselves as stewards of God's resources? What if we viewed our lives as something to be given in devotion to God? Sacrificial living is the call of the Christian. What better example do we have than Christ's sacrifice for us?

Prayer: Lord, give me the courage to live a life of sacrifice. Help me find joy in a life focused on giving rather than receiving.

Bonus Reading: Ezra 1—2; 5—6; Romans 12:1-2; Jeremiah 10:23; 1 John 4:10; Matthew 16:24