Day 29 – June 29, 2025

55-day Devotional Journey – Day 29

Scripture:
Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel. So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass. Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work. Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision." And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, "Let us rise up and build." So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
Nehemiah 2:9–18 (ESV)

Reflection:
Nehemiah took action and initiative to fulfill the work God put upon his heart because he deeply believed "the good hand of my God was upon me" (Neh 2:8 [ESV]). That is, he understood that grace and works go together. God in his grace had made it so that the Persian king sent him back to Jerusalem, along with an escort and official letters, to rebuild the city. So, despite opposition, Nehemiah proceeded to survey the work needed and build a team for the rebuilding. This is the way things get done in the ministry of the gospel. We stake our lives on the grace of God – that he has saved us and invited us to be in his kingdom building plan. Then we launch out implementing the strategic and practical steps to bring the plan to completion.

This has been the way it's been at NYCBC for 55 years! We can have confidence in working on new initiatives for God, in building his kingdom, in bearing witness for him because we have the evidence of his grace all around us. He has blessed us with a one another, marvelous church facilities, and the friendships and connections through which we may reach out to others. If, in Christ, we understand that the good hand of God is upon us, then we will not hesitate to do the works that bring him glory. Let's always take this position: seeing God's grace and doing God's work.

Reflection Question:
Like Nehemiah, there will those who want to see us fail in the kingdom work. They will taunt us and try to get in the way of God's purposes. How does a proper understanding of grace and works going together help you to persevere in fulfilling your part in his purposes?

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we know your grace to us in the provision of our daily needs, the blessing of fellowship in the body of Christ, the reward of fruitfulness in ministry. Help us to always see your gracious hand in our lives, especially when enemies and obstacles stand in the way of faithful in action. Let us, like Nehemiah, strategize and carry out kingdom plans because we have experienced your grace in paving the way for us. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

By Pastor Richard Choy