Know Your Role
Daily Old Testament Reading: Nehemiah 1-3
Daily Focus Passage: Nehemiah 3
Nehemiah called the people to rebuild Jerusalem's walls because he knew the impossible was possible with the Lord. Nehemiah called the people to personal accountability and expected each to identify and carry out their role in completing the task. Nehemiah's expectation remains true for the church today. The apostle Paul spoke of the Body of Christ and how believers belong as individual members to that body that holds a specific task. As you read Nehemiah 3, do you know your role, and are you carrying out the task before you?
WORK FOR THE LORD
Nehemiah called the people to work because he knew that work was required of all. Nehemiah involved the priest, men of Jericho, goldsmiths, and merchants. Each of the individuals received the call to use their ability to carry out the task given to them by the Lord. Thus, they needed to dedicate themselves and their work to the Lord.
When we dedicate ourselves and our work to the Lord, we set ourselves on fulfilling God's plan. We work because the task is not about us, but instead, the task is about the Lord. Thus, we must dedicate ourselves to the task and, as a result, worship the Lord in our obedience.
EQUIPPED TO WORK
Nehemiah understood that the Lord had called the people to the task and that it would be accomplished because the Lord had equipped them. The Lord had designed each individual in a manner that could be used to serve him in faithfulness and help achieve the task set before them. The Lord did not abandon the people after equipping them but remained with them, providing them with guidance, strength, and protection.
Today, we must recognize that the Lord has put two types of tasks: general and specific. Generally, the Lord has called us to grow, sow, and go. He wants us to be on task to become a disciple who makes disciples. He has given us what is needed for the task and is with us each step of the way. In a specific sense, the Lord has called us individually to a task and given us what is needed to accomplish it. As we read Nehemiah 3, may we seek to understand the task before us and see how God has equipped us for it.
TAKE PERSONAL RESPONISBILITY
The people had to hear the call of the Lord through Nehemiah and then respond to that call. The response required the people to take personal responsibility for fulfilling the task before them. Their example demonstrates that we must seek to fulfill the call of the Lord on our lives. This fulfillment occurs as we identify God's leading and equipping and begin to take the steps to obey those. As we obey God's calling, we must seek to honor him with our lives and rejoice in the work. We rejoice in the work because the task is an opportunity to serve the Lord and give him worship. As this occurs, we will also be edified in the work. Thus, we must take the personal responsibility to fulfill the task the Lord has placed before us.
We must understand the role God has given us to fulfill the task of the Great Commission. As a church and as individuals, we must hear the call of the Lord, step in, obey the call, and work with delight to fulfill the task. If you are not fulfilling your role, will you take the first step to hearing and following God's call? If you have heard the calling of the Lord, are you trusting his equipping to fulfill the task?
