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Next to who?
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Next to who? by Phil Last time we talked about taking the first step to get involved at church. Now, let's take it a step further... When I study the Bible, I often look for the obscure details, things that are mentioned in passing and commonly skimmed over. The third chapter of Nehemiah is just the opposite. The phrase “next to him” or something similar occurs over 25 times in that chapter! Seems like ole Nehi might have been trying to tell us something. The chapter is a virtual walk around the outskirts of Jerusalem’s former wall, gate by gate. Each family or group of people are repairing a section of the wall, working side by side with their fellow Israelites. Each has a separate job, but all work together to create a cohesive whole. This is a beautiful example for the church today. Each of us has unique talents, abilities and experience. God has a job for everyone, and our jobs are important to create a healthy church. We are called to work side by side with our brothers and sisters, not pushing our agenda into their area of work, and not focusing so strongly on our “ministry” that we disregard how it fits into the complete project. In my mind, I picture the Israelites helping each other, maybe handing a brother a stone that would fit into their area, not silently criticizing their brother’s workmanship. For the wall to provide protection for the whole city, there couldn’t be any weak areas. I would hope when someone saw a potential problem, they would offer helpful comments, not sit around thinking, “Well, let’s just see how long that will hold up!” One other observation from our passage. The Israelites didn’t expect Nehemiah to do all the work and guide each minute detail. His job was to provide a vision and provide the building material the people would need to serve the greater cause. The same is true of pastors. They are just one person and working on their own “section of the wall.” It’s not fair to expect them to be everywhere and do everything. That is not the way God intended His kingdom to work. Everyone is important, everyone has a job. As we said last time, God’s church is not built by spectators on the sidelines. Let’s honor Him and get to work! Roll up your sleeves, we've got work to do! Click Here to Check our Concert Schedule! Check us out on Facebook! - http://www.facebook.com/PhilandPamMorgan |
Phil & Pam Morgan
We're authors and musicians who loves to talk about faith & spirituality, arts & crafts, and music. Subscribe and join over 2,000+ newsletter readers every week!
Musicians...Building??? by Phil Here's a little 5th Tuesday bonus for you... In the Old Testament book of Nehemiah, after the wall was rebuilt, the people returned to Jerusalem and had a big dedication service. As I was reading through the account in chapter 12, something jumped out at me that most people overlook. It's probably because of my life experience, but this seemed almost miraculous to me... "The musicians also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem—from the villages...
Come to the Table - Part 2 by Phil Last time we looked at a dramatic interpretation of the Lord's Supper we shared recently at our church. You may remember that the reading ended, "Together, their voices rose softly in a traditional Passover hymn, filling the small room with warmth and strength. As their song drifted on the night air, Jesus looked around the room at his companions. No longer just followers, now friends. As he studied each face, his lips curved into a smile of enduring love."...
Come to the Table - Part 1 by Phil The schedule which we celebrate Communion or The Lord's Supper varies widely among churches. I grew up in a church where it was observed every week, and I've been part of churches that celebrate it monthly, quarterly, on special occasions, or whenever the mood struck. No matter how often we break the bread and drink the cup, there can be a danger of it becoming "routine" and losing the deep significance of the moment. The last time we celebrated The Lord's...