Teaching Notes

I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So they began this good work. - Nehemiah 2:18

Get started. The scripture is during the time when the children of Israel have been in captivity and the city and the walls have fallen in disrepair. Nehemiah here speaks about the instruction that God has given him. The instruction is to rebuild the wall. So when the people receive the instruction they state, "let us start rebuilding".

This is something that is important for us to understand. God has a plan that requires each of us to come on board and get to work. We could stand around and say, "boy is this wall bad" or "if so-in-so had done their job this wall wouldn't be in need or repair". In other words, we could stand around and talk about all that those before us did wrong or we could hear the instruction of the Lord and get started doing what he calls us to do.

This is a call to the young people (all people actually). You can no longer sit back and point a finger at what the "old" people did not do right or how they do not understand things of today. Do you know that may be all true, however when God calls you he is not going to ask you what the "older saints" did or did not do. He is going to ask you, did you follow the instructions I gave you to handle the need in your time?

What's the need of your time? Just like Nehemiah tells the people their needs to be a rebuilding of the wall to protect the city, today we need to shore up our walls to protect the city. Not physical walls, but spiritual walls. We need you today to use your strength and ability to build up spiritual walls that will protect others around you. God needs you to get started with the work he has for you.

What post are you on? God assigns each of us a specific job that is only for us. He does not ask you to do my job and he does not ask me to do yours. Not only does he give you a post to stand on building this wall, but he will equip you for the work.

Today, are you ready to take up your post on the wall that needs to be rebuilt? Are you ready to begin the work of restoring God's wall to protect his people? I pray today that you will get started to do what God has uniquely designed you to do. May he give you the courage to do what he has called you today. I pray that you do not wait until tomorrow, but set your mind to doing God's work today. Amen.