The
book of Nehemiah begins with distressing news - “The wall of Jerusalem
has been broken down, and its gates have been destroyed by fire”
(Nehemiah 1:3). Nehemiah takes this situation to the Lord in prayer
(Nehemiah 1:4-11). With the help of God, the work of rebuilding begins.
This work was pleasing to the Lord (Nehemiah 2:18). This work would not
be easy. There was opposition: They “mocked and ridiculed us, ‘What is
this you are doing?’” (Nehemiah 2;19). The opponents would not succeed.
Why? - “The God of heaven” would give “success” to His people (Nehemiah
2:20). God’s work is done by many people, working together. Nehemiah 3
gives us a list of all the people who played their part in the
rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls.
"The Son of Man came to save the lost" (Matthew 18:11). In Matthew 18:12-13, Jesus speaks about sheep. He's really speaking about us. He is the Shepherd. We are His sheep. Sheep wander away from the shepherd. We wander away from the Lord. The shepherd looks for the lost sheep. Jesus has come to seek for us and find us. He brings us home to God, our Father. Through His saving grace, we receive new life - a life in which we rejoice in our great Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. He delivers us from the condemnation, which our sin has brought upon us. He brings us into the knowledge of His forgiveness. This Gospel of salvation changes us. It teaches us to live in the power of God's love. Jesus speaks about "the Kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19:12,23), "the Kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:14,24) and "eternal life" (Matthew 19:29). Jesus' way of thinking and living is so very different from the world's way of thinking and living. He chall...
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