Faith: Day 5

Devotion by: Juli Benson

Nehemiah 4:14-22

After I looked these things over, I stood up and said to the nobles and the officials and the rest of the people, ‘Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your kin, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.’

When our enemies heard that their plot was known to us, and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and body-armour; and the leaders posted themselves behind the whole house of Judah, who were building the wall. The burden-bearers carried their loads in such a way that each laboured on the work with one hand and with the other held a weapon. And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. And I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, ‘The work is great and widely spread out, and we are separated far from one another on the wall. Rally to us wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet. Our God will fight for us.’

So we laboured at the work, and half of them held the spears from break of dawn until the stars came out. I also said to the people at that time, ‘Let every man and his servant pass the night inside Jerusalem, so that they may be a guard for us by night and may labour by day.’

FAITH!!!! Nehemiah sure had it when he said “Don't be afraid . . . remember the Lord who is GREAT and AWESOME . . .” Yes, our Lord IS Great and Awesome and as we move closer to Easter, the day our Lord was risen, it is vital to remember to thank Him for all our blessings and to show our love everyday. That includes the way we treat others, spending time with God and giving back to Him what He first gave us. I once heard a very godly man say “you can never out-give God”. He was and is right. I have now experienced that myself personally. Easter people: May God continue to bless you and your family and may you experience the true joy of giving.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, touch each of our hearts this Easter season and place in them the strong desire to give to others as you have so generously given to us. In your sweet name we pray. Amen.