Happy Sunday,
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:15-16
Is the news distracting you?
Nehemiah felt called by God to rebuild Jerusalem’s wall.
Without a wall, Jerusalem was vulnerable to enemies, less economically stable, and—as Nehemiah himself so lovingly described it—a “disgrace.” So, he rallied his fellow Jews to rebuild the wall. But almost immediately, opposition arose. First, they were mocked (chapter 2), then they were threatened (chapter 4), and finally, their enemies simply invited them to talk things out (chapter 6).
The request to talk seems quite reasonable. Dialogue is often wise; maybe they had a great proposal! But when Nehemiah received the request to talk, he responded, “I am doing important work and cannot come down.” They asked him three more times. Same answer:
“I am doing important work and cannot come down.”
“I am doing important work and cannot come down.”
“I am doing important work and cannot come down.”
Nehemiah didn’t need to hear them out because he wasn’t looking for another good idea; he was unwilling to be distracted from the mission God had given him.
Most of us don't have the clarity of Nehemiah's dramatic calling. Ours often looks like showing up faithfully to work, investing in relationships, and bringing hope and justice to people and places we can see, feel, and visit. Though that won’t make the news, it is no less urgent than Nehemiah's call, and it also requires faithful, focused attention.
Yet the news wants to talk about something new every hour. It wants to tell you about accidents that have imperiled people God loves, social injustices that are dehumanizing people God loves, and wars and crimes that are killing people God loves. These are things God cares deeply about and that require urgent attention—but they should, in various seasons, be ignored by you. Sometimes you need to be confident that you are already doing important work and tell the world that you cannot come down.
What do you think?
Jason
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