Daily Devotionals

Pressure Point Week 8: Friday

So I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?” Nehemiah 6:3

There is a reason people say, "keep your eye on the prize." As human beings, we tend to lose focus and shift our eyes. Instead of the prize, or the end goal, we look around us and sometimes allow ourselves to become distracted and lose focus. After all, we move in the direction we are looking. When we become distracted and focus on things other than our end goal, we find ourselves adrift, and in a direction we never intended to go. The truth is, losing focus is easy. As Christ followers in a world of many distractions, we must remember to keep our eyes on the prize and focus on our goals, never losing sight of what Christ has called us to do. 

One person in Scripture who refused to lose focus was Nehemiah. Nehemiah was the cupbearer of the king who was given a great burden from God to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. For far too long, the walls had been destroyed, which meant anyone could easily enter Jerusalem and cause destruction. God had allowed Jerusalem to be destroyed and its walls to be torn down in order to punish the people of Israel. Now, however, it was time for Israel to be restored and for its walls to be rebuilt, and God gave Nehemiah the burden to head up the rebuilding of the walls. 

As Nehemiah took on rebuilding the wall, he experienced opposition. Not everyone wanted to see Jerusalem's walls rebuilt, especially the enemies of the Israelites. Nevertheless, Nehemiah and those building the wall continued to work hard to complete this project. Finally, in Nehemiah chapter 6, they had almost finished their assignment. The wall was complete. All that was left was setting up doors in the gates. When their enemies heard it was almost complete, they sent Nehemiah a message to meet with them. They wanted to harm him and keep the project from finishing. Nehemiah replied, "I am engaged in a great work, so I can't come" (Nehemiah 6:3). Four times, they sent the same message, and Nehemiah gave the same response each time. "I am engaged in a great work, so I can't come." Nehemiah always focused on his burden and goal: rebuilding the Jerusalem wall. He was not deterred, and if he had taken a break and come down from the wall, he likely would have been harmed or even killed by his enemies. What an example he set for us!

 We must follow this example from Nehemiah. You see, life is short. We must stay focused, never losing sight of our call as Christ's followers to know Christ and to make Him known. May we keep our eyes focused on Christ, never coming down from the great work we have been called to. 

Moving toward action

Take a few minutes to evaluate where your focus is. Has anything been holding you back from the "great work" that God has called you to? If so, what is it? Confess it to God. Ask Him to help you stay focused on doing the great work He has called you to do. Write down on a notecard the words of Nehemiah, "I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down." Read the notecard you created whenever you feel distracted or tempted to come down from the "great work" that God has called you to. Let it encourage you to stay focused, keeping your eyes on the prize.

Going Deeper

Nehemiah 6:1-19

"Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained-though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates. 2 So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono.

But I realized they were plotting to harm me, 3 so I replied by sending this message to them: "I am engaged in a great work, so I can't come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?"

4 Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply. 5 The fifth time, Sanballat's servant came with an open letter in his hand, 6 and this is what it said:

"There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king. 7 He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, 'Look! There is a king in Judah!'

"You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me."

8 I replied, "There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing."

9 They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.

10 Later I went to visit Shemaiah son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home. He said, "Let us meet together inside the Temple of God and bolt the doors shut. Your enemies are coming to kill you tonight."

11 But I replied, "Should someone in my position run from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No, I won't do it!" 12 I realized that God had not spoken to him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me.

14 Remember, O my God, all the evil things that Tobiah and Sanballat have done. And remember Noadiah the prophet and all the prophets like her who have tried to intimidate me.

15 So on October 2 the wall was finished-just fifty-two days after we had begun. 16 When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.

17 During those fifty-two days, many letters went back and forth between Tobiah and the nobles of Judah. 18 For many in Judah had sworn allegiance to him because his father-in-law was Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan was married to the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah. 19 They kept telling me about Tobiah's good deeds, and then they told him everything I said. And Tobiah kept sending threatening letters to intimidate me."