Over the past few weeks I have been thinking about these words of Nehemiah to his kinsmen who were discouraged in the work of rebuilding Jerusalem because of the opposition and enemies they faced. Here is what Nehemiah said,
"Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes." (Neh. 4:14, Esv)
These words have been a great encouragement to me as I think upon my calling as a husband and father. The opposition and enemies we face today are strong, but the Lord is the Master over them and our families are worth the fight. Consider the commentary of Matthew Henry on the Nehemiah text:"Come," says he, "be not afraid of them, but behave yourselves valiantly, considering, [1.] Whom you fight under. You cannot have a better captain: Remember the Lord, who is great and terrible; you think your enemies great and terrible, but what are they in comparison with God, especially in opposition to him? He is great above them to control them, and will be terrible to them when he comes to reckon with them." Those that with an eye of faith see the church's God to be great and terrible will see the church's enemies to be mean and despicable. The reigning fear of God is the best antidote against the ensnaring fear of man. He that is afraid of a man that shall die forgets the Lord his Maker, (Isa. 51:12-13). [2.] "Whom you fight for. You cannot have a better cause; you fight for your brethren (Ps. 122:8), your sons, and your daughters. All that is dear to you in their world lies at stake; therefore behave yourselves valiantly."
May God give us all grace and strength to fight the good fight of faith...for his glory and the good of our family, friends and neighbors.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment