standing guard

This weekend I was reading Nehemiah and a couple of things really struck me. Nehemiah is not one of those books you frequent for memorable scriptures or words of wisdom. Yet, there is a lot of rich material there. The themes of the book are very compelling--a man stricken for the loss and exile of Jerusalem decided to turn his burden into action by returning to the city to rebuild the wall. However, he didn't just stop there--he rallied everyone around his vision and incorporated whoever is left in the city to work towards this common goal. There's a lot to learn about passion, hard work, and overcoming obstacles. There are also a ton of references towards community, accountability, and protecting one another.

Yet, this weekend, God had something different to point out to me. It was in the last chapter of the book. Nehemiah had come to a close in his work on the wall. Things were back into working order. People filled the city once again. So, he left to go back to his old job as a cupbearer for a bit. Once he left, things started to fall apart. Upon his return, he noticed there were some very clear violations of the laws of God. One of these he points out is the violation of the Sabbath. The people had begun to buy and sell goods and food on this holy day. Nehemiah approached the elders asking them how they could allow such a direct order of God be broken. When nothing changed, he decided to take matters into his own hands. He placed his servants at the gates on Sunday so that no one could enter the city to sell. Soon, people started camping out on the perimeter of the wall so that as soon as the servants left they could come in to sell. So, Nehemiah threatened them with physical harm! (Some things never change!) Then, he decides to do something very interesting. He asks the Levites to cleanse themselves and then he stations them at the wall so that they may help keep the Sabbath holy. After reading all of this, I thought about what a huge effort Nehemiah went through for honoring just one of God's laws. And...soon implications for what all of this means for us began to flood my mind...

We are all "Jerusalem." We can look at it as individuals or as a collective body. And we each reach a point at certain times when we grow apathetic to God's laws and begin to fail to see the purpose or intent behind them. I'm sure the Israelites thought nothing was wrong with buying some cloth or selling some grain on the Sabbath. Yet, Nehemiah saw the disobedience for what it really was and spoke out against it. We each need someone like this in our lives at certain points--someone to tell us we've gotten off-track or began to compromise. He wasn't afraid of what the people thought about him or who he might offend. He spoke the truth with the desire to see Israel get back on track.

But not only do we need Nehemiahs, we also need Levites. We need those who will be commissioned to stand watch. There is a very real enemy and he can be lurking outside of our "walls" at any moment, camped out, waiting for the opportunity to keep us where we're at. The Levites are protectors. They don't allow anything inside that would put us in a compromise.

Yet, they can't fulfill this role without having been cleansed themselves. The Levites cannot be the ones who are selling in the streets. They must be set apart from the disobedience and compromise that is occuring.

And all of this must be done in community. Nehemiah couldn't have done his job without the Levites. The Levites needed each other to stand as an active front. The Israelites needed Nehemiah and the others to help them see what was truly going on. Overall, this is not a one-man show...and neither is our "personal" walk with God.

We might find ourselves in any one of these positions. Perhaps we are an Israelite, wandering off with small compromises and a bit of apathy. We aren't really seeing any harm in what we're doing b/c after all, it's nothing big.

Yet, perhaps we're a Nehemiah. We are in a situation where maybe we are the only ones who see what's REALLY going on. We have a burden or an insight and know that things need to head in another direction.

Or perhaps we're the Levites. We've been called on to "stand watch," to pray or intercede for someone. Maybe we need to shower them with truth or just "be there." Whatever it is, our role is bind together to keep the opportunity for compromise on the outside.

So, what do we do?

If you are an Israelite--allow your life to be spoken into. Be open to hearing words of truth about the situation you are in. And more than that, allow others to come around you to help protect you.

If you are Nehemiah--speak the truth in love! And follow it with timely and wise action. Don't be afraid of what people will think. Share from your heart out of your burden and allow God to work through you.

If you are a Levite--stand together in protection. Pray! Speak truth over the situation you are watching over. Send words of encouragement and affirmation. Bind together with other Levites. Make this a group effort!

Most importantly, it's our job to realize that it's God who does the work. He is our Protector and Strength. Yet, He created us in community and we are given a responsibility for one another. I'm always amazed when He chooses to use His people to do wonderful things! Praise be to God.

oaks of righteousness

today for work we went to the morton arboretum for a day of prayer and fasting. it was really cool to have the opportunity to spend time in prayer and community (while also getting paid for it!). we spent 4 hours of the day in solitude, seeking after God, reading scripture, praying, and roaming the grounds. i didn't really know what to expect from the exercise, but at the end of the day i was extremely grateful for the ways that God had spoken.

the day started with a reading of hebrews 11. we then had to write down the ways that we had acted out of faith in our past. it was very humbling to think of myself in the same respect as Abraham, Moses, and Jacob. I couldn't imagine being counted among this "great cloud of witnesses." i struggled to come up with something and jotted it down, feeling like my act of faith seemed pretty insignificant in comparison. later, i was thinking about it and came to the realization that the same God that worked in them, lives in me. these people started out "small" and never intended for their lives to be recorded in history. they simply took steps of faith, one at a time, believing that what God had said for them was true. and here we are reading about them thousands of years later.

one of the major things that stuck out about the lives of those recorded in hebrews is the fact that they all suffered persecution and trials. they lived radical lives, willing to face lions, be sawed in two, or endure famine, beatings, and destitution. it's hard to relate to this while living in a 21st century western culture where our greatest persecution comes through a lack of cultural acceptance (and that is at times few and far between). so, what does this mean for me? i was reminded of a call to live a life of radical faith--even though i live in a more accepting day and age. i am asked to step out of the boat, to welcome in the stranger, to sacrifice my dearest things, and enter the lion's den--even if it occurs within the context of midwestern, suburban, Illinois.

later in the day, i spent some time wandering around the trails of the arboretum. as i was looking at all the trees, i saw a HUGE oak tree. i was then reminded of the scripture in Isaiah, describing us as "oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor." seeing this majestic creation reminded me of the work that God is able to do in our lives--taking us as a weak seedling and growing us up into strong planting in Him. yet, God wasn't finished with teaching me yet...

i was walking the trail, heading back to my car when i saw a bunch of acorns scattered on the ground. i was reminded of the mighty oak and it's small beginnings...and the fact that the tiny little acorn must go through a process of dying before it is transformed into such a tall tree. then i realized this wasn't just about the acorn, but it was about me. things in my life must die off before new life is able to grow. the fathers of faith in Hebrews are all testaments to this. they endured processes of death, suffering, and persecution so that the glory of God would be revealed in and through their lives. so i must do the same. the hard shell of the acorn must be sloughed off and broken down so that the inner workings can be exposed, allowing the seed to flourish and grow. this is the process i must submit to, and unfortunately, this isn't a one time deal. every day, every hour, there must be a surrender to the process of the Spirit--allowing Him to expose and refine....so that ultimately His splendor will be displayed.

maybe we aren't as different from the "great cloud of witnesses" as i originally thought....