Walking on Eggshells to Avoid Landmines

Nehemiah 6

The threat level has intensified to bright red. There is no safe space for Nehemiah, framed by enemies spreading conspiracy theories (v. 1-9), betrayed by religious leaders telling him bold-face lies (v.10-14), and entangled in a web of dysfunctional family loyalties (v.17-19). At any moment, someone will crack, or something will blow.

Four times in this chapter words like fear, frighten, and afraid, describe what each of these opposing groups wanted Nehemiah to experience internally as a result of their intimidating letters and lies, rumors and reports.  If they could just make him feel vulnerable, fear would shrivel Nehemiah into inaction. 

Trust no one.

Be afraid.

Give up.

But Nehemiah’s response gives us insight into the convictions that held him steady to his calling when it would have been reasonable to walk away.

“I’m doing a great work.” (v.3) 

Interestingly, that work likely included tasks that could be considered not-so-great. Imagine the hours of city council meetings, getting approval of architectural drawings, and recruiting the labor force to spend months in masonry. But it was great because his work was entrusted to him by God. 

When all of the little tasks included in our work don’t exactly feel great, how convinced are we that our work is great because of the One who assigned it to us? Only that kind of conviction will hold us steady when opposition comes. 

I want to say with Nehemiah, “This work came from God, therefore it’s too great to abandon.”

“O God, strengthen my hands.” (v.9)

Although approved by the king, it wasn’t the king who empowered Nehemiah to govern or to fill the role of General Contractor. The power to accomplish anything on behalf of Jerusalem came by the strength God gave him, and Nehemiah depended prayerfully on that strength when everyone seemed to be against him.

If I had been in Nehemiah’s position, I probably would have tip-toed out in the night and run straight back to King Artaxerxes to ask for reinforcements. I think I would have looked for strength from the wrong source. 

I want to say with Nehemiah, “My strength to do this work comes from God, therefore, it’s Him I need most in order to do it.”

“This work has been accomplished by the help of our God.” (v.16)

The lack of support plus the motley crew on site just didn’t add up to the astonishing completion of the city wall. But 52 days later, the job was done. Only a work of God could have produced these results, and even the opposition reached this conclusion.

When the first two responses are true about our lives, then may anyone evaluating our work conclude correctly, “She did this work by the help of her God.”

Approved & Pleasing

Last week, after returning from a retreat and launching a women’s Bible study at our church, an attack from the enemy came full-force into my heart:

“No one will be closer to Jesus because of those verses.”

“All you did was talk about things that don’t matter.”

“That was a waste of time.”

“If you didn’t see tears, the Word didn’t reach hearts.”

“You think there was any power behind that message?”

Etcetera. In the moment, those words landed as more valid and true than any other words. 

I’m sure you’ve been there. You’ve given yourself to something God called you into, and afterward, the second-guessing, the doubts, and the lies land heavy. “What was I even thinking to imagine God could use me?”, we ask ourselves.

But there are words more valid and true that fight back like a sword:

1. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

We put forth effort within our callings so that we stand tested and approved by God, not by others, and not even by ourselves, so tainted by pride and vulnerable to deception. Feedback and self-evaluation have their place, but they don't determine whether God approves. Handling God’s word faithfully enables us to stand unashamed in its truth when the enemy aims darts of shame at us.

…So was I aiming for God’s approval by accurately handling His word? 

2. “Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

Pleasing God begins with faith, not with activity. Actions within our calling must be based on faith that God is calling! We draw nearer to God in what He’s calling us to do, because we believe that He is in it and that He rewards our step of faith.

…So was I walking by faith in what I did?

Although I did it feebly, these were the truths I had to take to heart and the questions I asked back at the lies. Whatever God has called you to today, arm yourself with words more valid and true than all other words.

E for Effort

As I read Philippians 1 & 2, it was surprising to me how many words or concepts in these chapters begin with one repeated letter. If you Google the most frequently used letter in our alphabet, the English language has a favorite one, and it’s apparently the vowel E.

Paul didn’t write in English, so I don’t believe E has any divine meaning behind it, but if I were looking for a way to remember the topics from these first two chapters in Philippians, I’d start with E.

I pray,

Eager to see what only

Eternity will complete.

Embracing love more, may your

Excellent lives bear their fruit.

I know

Each of my trials bring joy,

Envy or good will aside.

Even by life or death, our

Eternal Christ is proclaimed.

I am

Encouraged by Him who was 

Equal with God, and yet He

Emptied Himself to His death,

Even to death on a cross.

He was

Exalted by God above

Every name known in the

Earth and the heavens, so that

Every knee bows to Him.

It’s not

Easy to shine, just like these: 

Epaphroditus and Tim.

Endure, yet be sure that the

Effort’s all Christ’s, and He won. 

A Childlike Week

Especially on Mondays, I wake up with the weight of the week on my shoulders. It’s not that there’s always a crisis I’m bracing for up ahead, but that there are so many contexts I’m embracing up ahead. Home, work, church, friends, neighborhood…each one calls for attention, and I want to give it fully. But how to give myself to each one at the right time, in the right way, meeting the right need, is often what concerns me on a Monday morning. 

Today as God met me, Ephesians 5:1 & 2 spoke the direction I need for this week:

“Therefore be imitators of God…”

In my home, imitate God

In my work, imitate God

In my church, imitate God

In my friendships, imitate God

In my neighborhood, imitate God

So this is supposed to be helpful?! You might say it sounds like an unreachable standard. Yet, it’s the next phrase that brings it down to scale:

“...as beloved children,”

Little children stick close, wide-eyed to their parents’ actions, words, and body language.  They don’t overanalyze or second guess whether it was specifically in one context or another that their parents’ behavior applied, and so they indiscriminately imitate them. Blunders abound. Laughter abounds. Parents blush in embarrassment.

But God invites our eager, childlike imitation of Him, because His character and actions are applicable in every context, no filter necessary. It’s how Jesus lived on earth: “...whatever the Father does, the Son does also.” John 5:19.

When I stick close, wide-eyed to God Himself, what I’ll see in Him is love, as Paul continues in verse 2:

“and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us…”

Giving up self in imitation of God applies in every context of my week. Surely, blunders will abound when I’m more childish than childlike, but my Father is with me every step to pick me back up and show me the way again. “For I the Lord your God hold your right hand. It is I who say to you, ‘fear not; I am the one who helps you.’” Isaiah 41:13

Good morning!

There have been plenty of Saturdays or summer days when our boys have slept in, and we’ve already left the house by the time they get up. On those occasions, instead of texting, I’ll typically leave a scrap paper note on the kitchen counter with a cheery “Good morning, guys!”, an explanation about the day, and a (small) list of chores for them. I’ll finish it off with a 🙂 and a few scribbled xoxox’s. 

Very inspiring, I’m sure. 

But what if I was the one to discover notes on my kitchen counter with details from God about the next 24 hours ahead of me? What if the Apostle Paul left a sticky note about the good I could do in the world? That would be pretty inspiring, and I’d probably wake up in expectation about what each message would be for that day. Like a piece of scrap paper left on your counter, may these short messages inspire your work this week:

MONDAY: 

Good morning, child of God! As you roll out of bed, God’s favor rests on you. No task you accomplish or job you perform can earn His love for you today.  He already extended His grace for your eternity in Christ, and now He reaches out and invites you to join Him in His good agenda planned out ahead of time.

Check out Ephesians 2:8-10

TUESDAY: 

This world needs so much, so, as you wake up to the day with Jesus, let Him guide you in His ways and in His work, which are more significant than a to-do list with good deeds to check off.  May He deepen your understanding as you follow Him and grow the good you do with Him so that it blossoms into fruitfulness that makes Him smile. 

Colossians 1:9-10

WEDNESDAY: 

Strengths, abilities, and gifts, planted graciously in your life by God’s hand, are meant to be sown generously from your life for others’ benefit.  You’ll never run out of His grace, and it only multiplies as you pour it out. May His abundant grace in you do abundant good through you so that joy and praise spring up like fields at harvest. 

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

THURSDAY: God prompts good desires inside of you, and although you might be uncertain about where those could lead, your step forward by faith today is the work He empowers. May He fulfill those desires and infuse your faith for His glory. 

2 Thessalonians 1:11,12

FRIDAY: Sometimes doing good all week is tiring. When it wears your heart out, may you remember whose blood is pumping through you. Jesus gave Himself up to the point of death and then raised to life to become your endless stream of comfort and hope as you do good works in sync with His heartbeat. 

2 Thessalonians 2:16,17

SATURDAY: When you’ve tried to do good all on your own, you sit like a dirty cereal bowl, useless in the sink. Christ washes you and sets you upright so you’re prepared at any moment to do good works in His house, fulfilling His intended purpose for you. 

2 Timothy 2:21

SUNDAY: Yes, your education, background, and life experiences contribute to the good you’re able to do today, but even the best of these combined will leave you lacking. It’s scripture that molds you into the type of person who has what’s really essential, so open the Word this morning, and you’ll be equipped for the good work that’s just waiting for you to show up today.  

2 Timothy 3:16,17

🙂