Residents of Jerusalem

Transcript:

This week we have to be prepared and on guard and keep our eyes open at all times. It is very natural for us to take certain moments easy and areas of our lives lightly that nothing would go on but God is calling us to be on high alert for the season ahead. Nothing should be able to take us off our mark, our eyes need to be focused on the goal that the Lord has given us.

Lessons from today’s scripture are as Nehemiah says the gates should be shut during the hottest part of the day. Usually, people enter the city when the weather is convenient and it is unlikely for an enemy to enter during the hottest. There are areas of our lives where we know that we do not need extra protection or covering for our lives. The Lord says we should not let our guard down. In the hottest part of the day, when we think the attack will be minimum or negligible even at that time God wants us to keep the doors closed.

The second lesson we see is even when the gatekeepers are on duty, He says to make sure to have them shut and Barr the doors. Sometimes we think of our gatekeepers who are watching out and looking out for us with a Spiritual covering. Thank God for our gatekeepers and those who are covering us and looking at our backs but even if we have protection, that still does not mean we have to take it easy or take temptation lightly. Our gates need to remain closed even when we have the gatekeepers on.

The third was to appoint the residents of Jerusalem to act as guards not specifically those who are strong or well built up but every one person who is part of the city is qualified. For us, we have to stand on guard and not outsource this responsibility to our pastors. Let us sit with this scripture and ask God to show us where He wants us to stand guard.

Lastly, he specifies that they stand guard at strategic positions around the city and the rest stand in front of their homes. Sometimes we tell ourselves we will only protect our homes and other times we overdo the protection of our church city and nation and we forget our homes but Nehemiah say both are necessary, around the church and at the same time, we need to stand guard in all places.

Prayer: Lord your word says because these days are evil, we have to be alert at all times, therefore we pray that this grace is released. This week, we will not take our guard and alertness for granted. Help us to keep our eyes focused on you at all times. In Jesus Mighty name we pray. Amen.