My only Hope

Nehemiah chapters 11 and 12 listed an honor roll of those who were willing to
relocate, to be where the action was to be in active service to God. The names
may be insignificant to us, but each was meticulously recorded and shows that to
God, they are important. From this we can glean the following:

1. PEOPLE MATTER:

a) Each work we do is important. God remembers what we do
for the sake of His Name. Every effort to build up the Body of Christ is
significant in the eyes of God. Even a cup of cold water given to another in His
Name is taken into account (Matthew 10:42). “For God is not unjust so as to
forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having
ministered and in still ministering to the saints” (Hebrews 6:10).

b) Each person is important:

• The individual matters to God. Our Good Shepherd leaves his
  whole flock of 99 to look for one sheep that goes astray to bring it back into
  His fold (Luke 15:3-7).
• The least matter to God. An illustration of a woman who
  searched for one lost coin tells us of the rejoicing in heaven over one sinner
  who repents (Luke 15:8-10).
• You matter to God. Just as the father in the parable of the
  prodigal son welcomed back and gave more to his son who left home, our Heavenly
  Father welcomes us back and forgives us to share in His goodness and riches
  (Luke 15:11-12, 32).

We matter to God. Jesus died for our sins and hence we have been established
as members of Christ’s church and adopted as heirs of God’s kingdom. With that
privilege is the call to step out in faith to leave our comfort zones to gather
in the rest of those who matter to God. Abraham was called to unfamiliar
territory to father nations of descendants. Moses was sent to Egypt to deliver
his people from bondage. The apostle Paul died as a martyr for Christ’s cause.
Missionaries like Hudson Taylor, David Livingstone, and Jim Elliot, crossed
continents and risked their lives to spread the Gospel. We, too, are
commissioned to go where the Gospel needs to be heard (Matthew 28:19-20). Who
among us, like the prophet Isaiah, will rise up to heed the call? If people
matter to God, they should matter to us.

2. PRAISE MATTERS. The attitude of our heart matters more to
God than what we do for Him. Hence, we must:

a) Worship with gladness. The dedication of the finished
wall of Jerusalem heralded the consummation of Nehemiah’s work. There was
jubilant celebration marked with festive music and singing. The sound of
rejoicing resonated for miles around (Nehemiah 12:27, 31, 43). Philippians 4:4
exhorts: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” When we
meditate on all that Christ has done for us, we all have a reason to
rejoice!

b) Worship with gratitude. The people’s celebration was
about God’s great deeds in their midst. Praises were lifted up to God through
songs of thanksgiving (Nehemiah 12:8, 24, 27, 46). Someone once said: “Joy often
comes when we stop wailing about the troubles we have and offer thanks for the
troubles we don’t have.” Are our lips filled with thanksgiving? Or are we like
the nine of the ten lepers whom Christ healed but never bothered to give thanks
(Luke 17:11-19)? May our prayer be: “God, You have given me so much. Give me one
more thing – a grateful heart.”

c) Worship by giving. Giving flowed out of the Jews’ joyful
and grateful hearts. They generously gave what was required in tithes and
offerings for the upkeep of the temple and its workers (Nehemiah 12: 44-47). By
God’s grace, CCF has grown into its present size. Its vision is to have a church
planted in every city across the Philippines, and to have outreaches throughout
Asia and the world. Hence, we need a facility that can train by the numbers
beyond our paradigms. God willing, as the Spirit moves us to give generously, we
can start building the CCF Worship and Training Center when the year 2008 rolls
in. C. S. Lewis said: “Aim at heaven, you get earth thrown in. Aim at earth
alone, you get neither.”

How are our spiritual vital signs today? Are we joyful, grateful and
generous? Do we care enough for the lost? May God create in us a heart attuned
to what matters to Him, committed to go where He wants us to go and do what He
wants us to do.