Tag: Nehemiah 5

Rekindling Our Heart for Worship

In Malachi 1, the people of Israel express their frustration and weariness with serving the Lord, implying that it’s too hard to follow His commands. They turned their noses up at the sacrifices they were asked to make, offering blemished animals and half-hearted service. What was intended to be an act of devotion had become a begrudging task, and their worship reflected a spirit of apathy. They essentially complained that serving God was a burden rather than a privilege, a sign that their hearts had wandered far from Him.

The people of Malachi’s day had returned from exile, and though they had rebuilt the temple, their spiritual fervor had waned. The passion and hope that accompanied their return had cooled into a mechanical routine, one that lacked true devotion. The priests, meant to lead the people in reverent worship, were themselves dishonoring God by accepting unacceptable sacrifices. God, through Malachi, rebukes them, reminding them that He is a great King and deserves honor and reverence, not half-hearted offerings.

This same attitude can be found today. We may not bring animals to the altar, but we are often guilty of a similar complacency. How many times do we approach our faith with a “good enough” attitude? How often do we view serving the Lord as something burdensome, offering only what we feel we can spare—our leftover time, attention, or energy? The people of Malachi’s time lost sight of the greatness of God, and we, too, can be guilty of treating our relationship with Him as a mere obligation rather than an act of love and devotion.

There’s also the temptation to focus on how hard it can feel to follow God’s commands. In our modern lives, full of distractions and competing priorities, we can easily slip into thinking that obeying the Lord requires too much. Maybe we’re busy with work, overwhelmed with family responsibilities, or simply exhausted by the pace of life, and suddenly, reading Scripture, praying, or being involved in our church seems like just one more thing to add to the list. But this mindset misses the point entirely. God’s commands, like those given to Israel, are meant to draw us closer to Him, to foster life and spiritual flourishing, not to burden us. When we approach them as if they’re too hard or not worth our full attention, we dishonor God, just as Israel did.

Instead of turning our noses up at what God asks of us, we’re called to reframe our perspective. Service to the Lord is not about checking boxes or fulfilling obligations. It’s a response to the immense love and grace He has shown us. When we shift our mindset from “How much do I have to do?” to “How can I give my best to God?” our faith moves from a place of drudgery to a place of joy. Our service becomes a privilege, and our hearts realign with the worship and honor that God deserves.

In every era, from Malachi’s day to today, God calls His people to honor Him not with bare minimum effort but with hearts that recognize the incredible privilege of knowing and serving Him. Let’s challenge ourselves to give God our best, not just our leftovers, remembering that His commands are not burdens but opportunities to grow closer to Him. When we give Him our whole heart, our service becomes a source of joy and fulfillment, not something we begrudge. God is worthy of our full devotion—may we never see serving Him as too hard or too much to ask.

Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt: Keeping Our Eyes on the Prize

Nehemiah faced multiple forms of opposition as he sought to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Sanballat, Tobiah, and others continually tried to disrupt the work through various tactics: intimidation, discouragement, and disinformation. Each of these methods is a classic tactic used to sow fear and confusion, causing people to doubt their mission. But Nehemiah’s focus and reliance on God serve as a powerful example for us today.

First, there was the scare tactic. Sanballat and Tobiah mocked the efforts of the builders. They laughed at them, claiming the wall would crumble if even a fox walked on it (Neh. 4:3). The aim was to undermine their confidence and make them second-guess the importance of their work. It’s not too different from the whispers we might hear today: “What difference will it make?” “Are you sure this is even worth it?” “Maybe you should just stop before you embarrass yourself.” These subtle doubts can erode our resolve if we give them space in our minds.

Second, they tried to incite fear with the threat of violence. Sanballat and Tobiah spread rumors about an imminent attack (Neh. 4:11). In response, half the workers stood guard while the other half built the wall, each holding a weapon at their side (Neh. 4:17-18). The key here is how Nehemiah addressed the threat — he neither ignored it nor let it paralyze the work. He took practical precautions, but the work continued. Sometimes in life, we face real threats — whether it’s fear of failure, personal attacks, or genuine danger. In such moments, wisdom calls for both vigilance and persistence. But we cannot allow fear to derail us from our God-given purpose.

The enemy didn’t stop there. They then resorted to lies and manipulation. Sanballat sent letters accusing Nehemiah of rebelling against the king, a serious claim that could have cost him his life (Neh. 6:5-9). Nehemiah saw through the lies and refused to be intimidated. He didn’t waste time trying to defend himself or prove his innocence — he trusted that God would vindicate him. In our own lives, we can face misinformation and rumors, especially in today’s age of social media. It’s easy to feel like we need to respond to every accusation or defend ourselves against every misunderstanding. But sometimes, the best response is to keep moving forward and trust that the truth will eventually come to light.

Finally, Nehemiah faced attempts at compromise. Sanballat and Tobiah invited him to a meeting, which was a veiled attempt to ambush him (Neh. 6:2-3). Nehemiah saw through their plan and refused, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down.” He didn’t let himself get distracted. Today, distractions can come in many forms — whether it’s the temptation to engage in fruitless arguments, to take on tasks that aren’t ours, or to settle for less than what God has called us to. Once we have our orders from the King, we must stay the course without compromise or delay.

Nehemiah shows us that opposition, whether through fear, intimidation, lies, or distraction, is inevitable. Yet, his example reminds us that we don’t have to give in. Just as Nehemiah had orders from the king of Persia and stayed focused, we have orders from the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. When we are sure of what God has called us to, we must stay focused on the mission, trusting that He will provide the strength, wisdom, and protection we need to overcome every obstacle.