Nehemiah 2:11-17
11. So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
12. And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.
13. And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.
14. Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king' pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.
15. Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.
16. And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.
17. Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.

No doubt you are familiar with the story of Nehemiah. He was a Jew who was the cupbeareer for the Persian king Artaxerxes. He became burdened for the city of Jerusalem when he heard that the city walls had not been rebuilt since the remnant had returned there from captivity. Seeing this, Artaxerxes gave him permission jto go to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls. He even gave Nehemiah the resources he needed for the job!

Upon his arrival in Jerusalem, he took 3 days to assess the situation. He didn't say anything to anyone about why he was there during that time. He simply went out each night to examine things and see what needed to be done. He then went to the city leaders and encouraged them to join him in rebuilding the walls.

What is my point, you ask? Simply this: Nehemiah was a man who, when he saw what needed to be done, put his shoulder to the grindstone and got it done. He didn't wait to be asked. He didn't complain about it. He took the initiative and did it! I am firmly convinced that God needs more servants like that today. He needs believers who will see what needs to be done and do it! So many believers stand around and do nothing for God. What a shame this is! The Great Commission will never be fulfilled that way! God will not be pleased or honored by that!

Are you a Nehemiah? I hope so. A simple look around you at today's world will reveal a multitude of things that need to be done for Him. Let's get them done!

thanks Pastor Chad for that remind, I thank God for folks like you, My pastor, our Youth minister, and the youth of our church. We adopted the road our church is on and Saturday morning at 8a.m. 8 of us picked up the trash on this road and cleaned it up. We saw a need and we just got together and did it, with no questions asked. thanks for reminding us that we need to do this much more. thanks for the reminders, and for all your work. You are very precious to us and we :wub: you

Thanks Bro Chad....I love the book of Nehemiah. I was reading last night about Nehemiah putting a stop to the things that were happening on the Sabbath. I love the verse where he tells them he'll "lay hands on them"....and where he tells the Levites to clean up their act and he sets them as guards to keep the junk out....there are so many valuable lessons to be learned from the book of Nehemiah.