Today’s Reading, Nehemiah 10-11
Focal Scripture: Nehemiah 11:2 “The people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.”
I have had several great experiences in my life. One of the best for me personally and as a family was our time in the Metro Atlanta area. I can honestly say that the experiences we had greatly shaped us as a family. Personally, it changed how I view many things, especially biblically. It was a difficult time of growth personally but on a ministry level stretched, challenged and taught me to rely on God’s power more than any part of my faith journey.
In today’s reading we see that Nehemiah is needing people to stay and repopulate Jerusalem. He asks for volunteers and the people that chose this path were blessed. This was a difficult ask because starting something new is hard. Leaving people you care about is hard. Making a decision to step out in faith is hard.
The point I want to drive home today is to love the city you are currently in or will be living in later. You need to be an active participant and involved in the life of the city. It is difficult to live in one city and serve and do life in another. Right now as a family our lives are not where we live. Our home is far away from where we work, spend time and have friends. It becomes difficult to be vested in a city when you’re not focused on that city.
So the challenge I have for you today is to love the city you live in and be part of the fabric to make it brighter for Christ. Right now that is what we do when we can where we live. I have a heart for this place and they desperately need the love of Jesus. They need truth and hope. Right now now my heart is split between where I live and where I serve. I can’t fully commit like I did when we lived in Atlanta.
So the desire behind this devotion today is to be committed where you live. Settle down and put down roots. It doesn’t matter if it’s for 7 years or for seventy. Serve and love the city and watch how God moves in the lives of people. If you allow it the city you serve in can and will bless you beyond measure. Even when you don’t think it’s possible.
Take it from me, I never thought I would love city life but it fundamentally changed me in so many positive ways. I now have sentimental feelings when I see the Atlanta skyline. When I see airplanes it reminds me of ministry and friends. I learned how to love a city that was different than me because I put down roots.
I challenge you to do the same.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Nehemiah 12-13
