TCN's Biblical Journey - April 26th

Today's reading is Nehemiah 3-7

You're responsible for your part of the wall.

Nehemiah 3, now this is an exciting chapter, right? Maybe not. No, it’s not as bad and the genealogies of Chronicles which make every other listing of names in the Bible seem small, but this chapter teaches us something important. Do you see it?

I’m going to assume you do. However, I will put it in writing just to make sure we are on the same page. Every group worked on the area which was close to them and by each doing their part the whole was completed.

This wasn’t a job which could have missing sections. If a plank on the bottom of a boat falls off the whole ship sinks not just the part that fell off. Every part was important, and here everyone did their part and the job was completed (and quicker than some may have thought). This chapter is a reminder that we all have a job to do and when everyone in the church does what is needed then great things are accomplished.

In the case of a city wall, if one part is breached the whole city is taken. The same is true in the church. The pastor can preach a great sermon and the music can be wonderful, but if the bathrooms haven’t been cleaned in a month and they stink up the church no one is going to come. If the church building is beautiful but the greeters are rude, people will stay away. Yes, there are times when some aspects fall short and grace can be given but if some in the church continually fail to do their part the whole will suffer.

My challenge though isn’t to look at what others are doing but to concentrate on what is in front of you. This is what the people did here, they weren’t inspecting another person’s work but did theirs.

So what are you doing (or supposed to be doing)?

Photo by Marl Clevenger on Unsplash