Remember
the Big Picture
Scripture
Text: Nehemiah
7:1-7, 70-73
When
I see how God works through Nehemiah, in Nehemiah 7, I am awed that
at the bottomline, the person
is more important than a project
or programme. Our
God is so personable
that character building
plays a more significant role than the building itself (or rather
character moulding
is more pertinent than the mould
(wall) itself). Nehemiah was able to capture God's heartbeat as
he was constantly in touch with Him. He realised that rebuilding
the wall was not God's ultimate goal but reforming Israel into a
holy people was His greater goal. Hence, depite completing the wall
construction in 52 days, the people did not rest or celebrate immediately.
Like us, when
we accomplish a big church project after months of preparation,
the tendency is to want to rest and celebrate when the goal is achieved.
However, we must not forget the B.I.G picture that God has planned
for us: the project
is just the process
that God uses to produce
good works in our lives and be useful for His purposes.
How
to be part of God's BIG picture?
Being
the person God wants us to be (v1-73). It is to be holy.
- It means to
be separated from the world and to yield our life to God. It is
to be “wholly” the Lord’s and have a God fearing heart – the right
kind of heart. John Wesley called Christianity the religion of the
heart.
- A holy person
will make wise decisions. So he will choose character
over charisma. He is wise to know what is important. Character is
his substance.
“A person is
like a tree:
The shadow of the tree is his reputation
The fruit of the tree is his personality
And most important, the roots of the tree is his character”
Like Nehemiah, we do not want to live , such that we are so 'heavenly'
that we are of no earthly use. Conversely, we also do not want to
live such 'worldly' lives, where our names will be left out from
the Book of Life.
In
touch with God constantly (v5; 65)
- There seemed
to be a plug-in communication in Nehemiah’s system. He was not overwhelmed
by the task ahead but was in touch with God, listening to His heartbeat
to tell him what to do next.
- Being in touch
with God means to be in tune with Him
How God would
wish His people to be like mobile phones, ON all the time so He
can contact us anytime, all the time.
Give
generously to God’s work (v70-72)
- People of
God love to give because we are grateful to our ever-loving God
and we know we cannot out-give our ever so generous and giving God.
“Gain all we
can.
Save all we can.
Give all we can.”
~ John Wesley’s
sermon, The Use of Money, 1744.
Prayer
response
Dear Lord, we need your Spirit to anoint and renew us, so that we
can be your holy people to live wholly for You. Open our hearts
to you, so that we can hear your prompting. Teach us to be generous
and cheerful in our giving. Holy Spirit, help us not to be distracted
but to be able to see the big picture you have painted before us.
Thank you Lord that when we live a life for You, we leave a living
legacy.
-
Devotional based on message by Pastor Leslie Lim