TUESDAY May 9, 2017
The Bare Necessities
So neither I, my brethren, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me took off our clothes, except that everyone took them off for washing. - Nehemiah 4:23
Notice that Nehemiah, as a leader, led the people––the people did not lead him. He was their example and they followed their leader. Nehemiah and the people were so dedicated to do the work of God, that they did not even change their clothing! While working day and night, they made it through using just the bare necessities. God’s work was so important to them that nothing else mattered.
Nehemiah’s life leaves to us another good lesson for leadership. A leader must be led by the Lord. A leader has to make sure that the people he is called to lead do not end up leading him. As a leader receives instructions from the Lord he must first be obedient to Him. Then they can take those commands to the people and, in turn, the people will follow him.
God must be first––the top priority. A servant of God must accomplish the work of Lord. Why? Because the Lord expects you to finish the work He has given to you. This can only happen as you make yourself available, submissive and accountable to the Lord. The Christian life is a walk of obedience to His will, in whatever way He wants to move in your life.
We can take this important principle with us from Nehemiah 4, we must have a mind to work, a heart to pray and eyes to watch. God will take care of everything else. Remember, He is the One who started a work in you and He will complete it––not you.
…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ
~Philippians 1:5-6~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!
