Nehemiah 2:5 …” and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

I love the story of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall. Nehemiah was a layman that served as King Artaxerxes’ cupbearer, but he was also the king’s friend. Nehemiah came to Persia in exile, but chose to remain even after the exiles were allowed to go home. 

Nehemiah asked a friend about the state of Jerusalem, and was told of the turmoil and ruin, and he was deeply saddened. The king asked Nehemiah why was he sad, in which he replied ““Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” This amazes me because Nehemiah was living comfortably in Persia. He had a great job, great friends, and a great way of life. Even so, he couldn’t bear the thought of the place that he came from being in ruin. Instead of simply ignoring the matter, he used his position and influence with the king to go back and help the people of Jerusalem rebuild. Not only that, the king admired his efforts so much, that he gave Nehemiah all the materials he needed to complete his mission. So Nehemiah went back and was instrumental is rebuilding the city, while fighting off attacks.

My brother Brian reminded me that we tend to give Nehemiah so much credit for the rebuilding of city’s wall, but we forget about the people of Jerusalem. Though Nehemiah provided the equipment needed, Nehemiah 3 lays out all the people that put in that sweat equity to build the wall. If you really think about it, Nehemiah might have laid less than 5% of the bricks needed to build the wall. The majority of the wall was built by the people, working together.

Pastor Wilson preached about the importance of men coming together to build physical and spiritual security for their families and communities. It’s easy for us to look to the Nehemiahs and Pastors and Ministers to do the work, but it doesn’t matter who you are in the community or the church, you have the responsibility and the ability to build. God rightly placed us all in a position to fight together and to build together.

What is your role? Perhaps you are in the position of the king and you have the resources at your disposal to provide to the community. Perhaps you are like Nehemiah and are in a position of influence with a connection to the resource and the community and your call is to bring them together. Perhaps you are like the people of Jerusalem and have been focusing on the fight, and now you see your opportunity to rebuild. Each of these people NEED each other in other to accomplish anything. Choose today to take action in your role, because it is vital to the rebuilding of our families, our communities and our souls. You are rightly positioned, right now!

Heavenly Father, I am so tired of only focusing on the fight and not rebuilding the families and communities You’ve placed in my life. Help me to identify my position in the process, so that I may walk in Your will! In Jesus’ name, Amen!

By: Min. April Carter