Calendar

CALLED TO SERVE (IV)
THURSDAY, JANUARY 15
Nehemiah 3:1-15

Ephesians 4:1-16

 

“…every joint supplieth,
according to the effectual working

in the measure of every part.”

 

CALLED TO SERVE (IV)
 
The building of the wall and the roll-call of the builders are a testimony to the unity and cooperation of God’s servants, and the fruit and profit that such a united endeavour brings. It shows the importance of, and need for, unity and cooperation for success in God’s service. Each volunteer was assigned duty, and was responsible for the part assigned to him. Every member of the body of Christ has a part to play for the body of Christ to accomplish its work. As such, every believer has a definite “ministry” or area of service he can render for the benefit, growth and comfort of the whole body of Christ. The diversity of the workers is unmistakable, along with the difference in scope and effort of work. Yet all the individual efforts, when put together, would accomplish a work that cannot be achieved by the efforts of one individual.
 
And next unto him… (Neh 3:2). The same three-word phrase considered in the previous devotion also describes the cooperation and unity in the work. As the roll call takes us around the wall of Jerusalem, it presents both diversity and unity. Different sections were worked upon by different people, from priests (Neh 3:1) to Gibeonites who were doomed to menial work by Joshua (Neh 3:7 cf. Josh 9:27), to goldsmiths and chemists (Neh 3:8), to rulers and nobles (Neh 3:9, 12, 14). Different sections required different kinds of workings, such as “wall” (Neh 3:8, 13, 15, 19, 20, 24, 25 and 27), and “tower” (Neh 3:1, 11, 25, 26 and 27). Yet, still others worked on the “gate” (Neh 3:1, 3, 6, 13, 14, 15, 26, 28, 29, 31 and 32). Some built up (Neh 3:1-3), while others set up (Neh 3:1, 3, 6, 13, 14 and 15). Others “repaired” (a word that occurs in almost every verse from Nehemiah 3:5 to 3:32). And some did multiple tasks like the priests. There were those who put in more effort than others and covered greater grounds like the inhabitants of Zanoah (Neh 3:13) and Baruch who “earnestly repaired” (Neh 3:20), and even those who worked “over against his house” like Jedaiah (Neh 3:10). Yet all around the wall, work progressed. And as the wall rose up, it rose up as one wall, one work.
 
THOUGHT: Everyone who does his part contributes to the whole.
 
PRAYER: Father, help me be mindful of every task, and be diligent in every task, so that I may honour my God and Saviour.

Search