Beauty
From Rubble
Scripture
Text: Nehemiah
2: 7-8, 16-20
Walk
into my second floor bedroom and you will be greeted with a work
table of books and papers stacked untidily at a corner, pencil shavings
in a cup. In the playroom, the situation is no different. Toys are
scattered near their boxes, board game tokens pushed neatly along
the parquet skirting, tell tale signs of someone trying to hide
the mess, in broad daylight...
Does
it sound like our lives? Ever so often, we find ourselves in a mess
– a mess we do not know how we got into, a mess we do not
know how to get out, a mess – we are the very ones who put
ourselves in, a mess that tears down our walls of defense and leaves
us helpless and vulnerable.
Jerusalem
was exactly in that situation (in the book of Nehemiah). It was
in a mess, brought about largely by the sins of its people. However,
God did not allow Jerusalem to be in that mess for long.
A
God Who Got Involved
God’s
attitude could be, “It’s your mess – you clean
it up.” However, God looked at the mess the Israelites made
(and the mess we often make in our lives), and realised He had to
step in – as they would never be able to clear up what they
created
How
Did God Get Involved?
1)
God gave grace: He
extended His Grace unto them – “And the King granted
these requests because the gracious hand of God was on me”.
God, in His Grace, initiated, developed and saw through the rebuilding
of the city, because He knew Israel could not.
2)
God granted favour:
When God’s grace was showered upon Nehemiah, he not only got
leave to go back to Jerusalem, he was offered materials to rebuild
Jerusalem, and even received letters for a safe passage.
3)
God provided protection:
Nehemiah faced much opposition and many enemies, but he was not
worried. He said in Nehemiah 2:20: “The God of Heaven will
help us succeed”.
4)
God took control and
planned: God moved history, and carefully engineered the plan to
repopulate the land and raise the city of Jerusalem again.
Just
like parents, we unconsciously or unintentionally pick up the mess
of our children. We love them enough to help them get through the
messy tables, unfiled school papers and scattered toys.
Like
God, isn’t it wonderful to know that He cares enough to want
to rebuild our walls though He is under no obligation to do so?
Indeed we have a God who creates order in our messy lives. Praise
Him!
Prayer
Response:
Thank you God for providing a
way, when it seems there is no
way. Thank you for taking the mess we have made, and adding your
grace, favour, protection and plan to create beauty from rubble.
We know that your hand is in everything and we can leave everything
to you. Thank you God, that although our sin is great,
your grace is greater.
-
Devotional based on message by Ps Joel Yong