JUNE 16, 2023

  “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. ” 

― Walt Disney Company

NEHEMIAH 1-3

17Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” 18I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

19But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”

20I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”(2:17-20)

ACTS 2:1-13

1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,^b 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

JOURNAL 

God is a God of action. He sends out Abraham, Moses, David, Jeremiah...the people are asked to risk and take action. Obedience to God is found in action. Worship is an action, obedience is an action, love is done in action. I really don't believe you can be a true follower of God and not be taking action that stretches and causes you to seek and trust God. It is the essential channel of good leadership, however before action must come vision and direction. Both Nehemiah and the disciples received this vision and power before they set out on their mission. 

Mission is what this life is all about. Every believer has been given a mission to bring the love of God to the world in which they live...to their particular outpost in this world. The ultimate purpose in following God is to serve, not to be served. It is to give, not to receive. It is to live a life of action, not one of passivity and sloth. For God has given me the gift of life, energy and a healthy mind and body. I am to use it fully, not half-way, not some of the time. One day I will have eternal rest but that is not today, and I am not to waste my days longing for it. I am to spend my days and hours in action...obeying God and serving mankind. Building an outpost of heaven in my place in this world.

31but those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

ISAIAH 40:31