Focus verse: Nehemiah 1:2-4 - "Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire." When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven."
We live in a world full of many uncertainties, such as the rise in political tension, racial tensions, disease, hunger, lawlessness, hard economic living, loss of jobs, insecurity, abortions, divorce, separation and increase in deaths among other challenges. People live a life filled with fear and not sure of what tomorrow will bring and as these trends keeps on escalating, "there is a need to be concerned". There is a need not to be silent. Nehemiah is taken to exile where he gets employment as the king's cup bearer. He serves as a carrier man in the king's palace. His brothers come to Susa where he served the king and he asks them about the affairs of his people who remained in Jerusalem. He is told that the people who remained in Jerusalem have suffered great disgrace and the walls of Jerusalem had been brought down.
This makes him be in agony for his people. He could have chosen to be quiet and enjoy at the king's palace but he didn't do so because he was concerned. His concern leads him to getting down in deep prayer and fasting for several days and he seeks God's intervention for his people. His concern made him to take a step to the king and asks for a chance to go and help rebuilt that which the enemy had brought down. He was so concerned that he accepted to take a leaf, collect resources and go to the suffering. He was concerned to the point of weeping, praying and fasting, because he felt the great love for his people in pain. He was concerned so that he felt like stopping his carrier job for a while for the sake of God's people. This is not a time to be silent, it's a time to be concerned.
Believers should not be comfortable when things are not happening rightly. It's a time we need to show love and care for those going through challenges in our families, communities, churches, nation and around the world. It's a time to be concerned and share the Gospel (Good News of Jesus) with those who are hurting. It's a time to send prayers across the globe and give towards the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It's not a time to sit a merrily in your own job/profession or business. Christianity is founded on LOVE and love teachers us to reach to others in their point of need. It's a time Christians should wake up in deep prayer and fasting as did Nehemiah. We could hear of bad happenings around the globe but we still have a great God who is able to grant us the desires of our hearts. Remember God was concerned and that's why he sent his only begotten Son "so that whosoever believeth in Him will not perish but have everlasting life." Are you concerned enough for the aching world? Are you doing enough to reach to the world with Jesus love? Be a Nehemiah today!
Pastor Eliazar Wambo
Director of Bethesda Faith Ministries
Director of Repairer Christian School
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