Loving the verses from Nehemiah in the Journey with God readings at the moment. Yesterday the smallest sentence struck me at the very end of chapter 1.
v10 'I (Nehemiah) was cupbearer to the King'
So basically there is a big mess - the surviving Israelites are back in town and they are in a mess. Their home is being burnt with fire and the city walls being destroyed. They are in trouble. So Nehemiah prays and really gets a heart for them.
Yet this verse in the very end of the chapter is so significant. He is perfectly positioned for what He is called to do. He is cupbearer to the King. Therefore, Nehemiah got to see the King every day, possibly even several times. That means that he had most probably built up a good realtionship with the King. Thus he was able to ask the King if he could leave to go and help the Israelites in their distress.
Several things struck me
1 - Nehemiah was perfectly positioned. God had placed him in such a role, to have such a relationship with the King, to be able to react and assist in such a task. God places us in jobs, roles, situations often for a reason. Do we always take advantage of this? For example, as a teacher every year we have the opportunity to take the whole school assembly. So last year I volunteered to take one and talk about God. The results were fantastic. I used my position to God's advantage. Or rather, He used the position He had given me, and used me in amazing ways to spread His love. Let us use our positions and roles to God's glory - not winge, moan, and fade into the background in them.
Moving on to chapter 2
2 - Nehemiah had boldness to make his requests; not just a request for time off, but also for resources and equipment. Yet this was not done without relationship with the King. Let us also build relationships with people around us, above us and who lead us so that we can receive respect, trust and dignity. If we respect those in authority above us, they may hopefully respect us back and make life easier. But let us also be bold in making our requests known and in standing up for injustice. Additionally, note that Nehemiah did not winge and moan. He was carefuly in his approach to the King. He acknowledged the King's authority first - respected the King's dignity and then politely made his request. Let us do similar when standing up for injustice or righteousness, not gossip, talk about people behind their backs, belittle or completely go in with guns ablaze ready to bite someone's head off.
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In conclusion...
It is incredible how God places us in the perfect places to carry out His work. We do not have to wait for a platform or a stage or a contract or a salary or a date or a deadline. We are placed right here, right now to be used by God. Are we going to let Him use us?
Be bold. Make your requests known, but do it with dignity and respect, and through relationship.
Finally, God gave Nehemiah success in not only his requests to the King, but in the rebuilding of the walls and his passions. Nehemiah was just in the right place at the right time, living out exactly what God had called him to do. We do not need to unneccessarily labour, toil, strive and burn ourselves out in doing things unto the Lord. We just need to be in the right place at the right time, obeying God and living out His calling. Then HE will grant us success. Perfect positioning.
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