DEVELOPING THE SPIRIT OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
DECEMBER 12, 2024
TEXT: And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven (Nehemiah 1:4)
Today’s discussion shall focus on how to develop the spirit of responsibility. The origin of this story began when Nehemiah was taken to Persia, alongside many other Israelites. Upon arrival, he gained the rare privilege of becoming the King’s butler (wine server) and served faithfully in the palace of King Artaxerxes.
One day, a certain Jew named Hanani visited the palace in Shushan, where Nehemiah was serving. He informed Nehemiah of the state of dilapidation in the land of Jerusalem. This became a huge concern to Nehemiah, and his countenance began to look sorrowful on a daily basis, to the extent that the king observed and asked him the cause of his sad countenance. (Nehemiah 2:2)
Prayerfully, he informed the king of his intention to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, and shockingly, the king granted his requests and permitted him to embark on the journey to repair. (Nehemiah 2:4-10)
What Nehemiah displayed in the above summarised version was pure responsibility on his part. It must be noted that Nehemiah was not even an official or leader of any unit among the Israelites. However, he took it upon himself to see to the welfare of his people. He took the project upon himself as a personal project.
Nehemiah’s story is a huge challenge to us as believers. We shouldn’t just fold our hands and allow misfortune to happen in the house of God and in our communities, knowing fully well that we are in a proper position to remedy the situation.
KEY TAKE-HOMES
- We must identify our own “Jerusalem” and the peculiar needs of the land.
- We must pray for courage and faith to take bold decisions and steps in times of confusion.
- We must learn to avoid shying away from responsibilities.
SEARCHLIGHT: Like Nehemiah, aspire to be a model Christian, worthy of emulation.
PRAYER: I pray for the power to take up responsibilities in the house of God; LORD, release this upon my life, in the name of Jesus.
BIBLE READING: Genesis 37-39, Acts 3
PST. MICHAEL OMOLE
