Wow. Look at all he did. And look at how many times we see the word “I” in there. All those things he did to satisfy himself. Therein lies the root of his dissatisfaction. When you were in Sunday school, did you sing the J-O-Y song? (“J-O-Y, J-O-Y, this is what it means: Jesus first, yourself last, and others in between.”) When we put ourselves first, we can’t discover true joy and contentment. The problem with collecting more and more is that it makes us want more and more…and it never seems to be enough. We find joy when we practice the biblical instruction of loving our neighbors as ourselves, of giving of ourselves. That’s when we emulate our Savior, and joy comes in the giving.
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As we’ve noted on previous days, Nehemiah became aware of the broken down state of Jerusalem and the despair of its inhabitants, and his heart was moved—he cared. His grief over the city and the Jewish people drove him to his knees. He pleaded with the great and terrible (awe-inspiring)…
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Step two: care
This report distressed and concerned Nehemiah on various levels. A city without walls was open to attack. This put the inhabitants in a constant state of vulnerability. But this wasn’t just any city—this was Jerusalem, the city where the Lord had chosen to make His name known! The disrepair sent…

