Day 4

Vision

Nehemiah 2:11-17: 

Take a moment to ask God to meet with you today, then reflect on these verses by reading them a few times

"I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on. By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal a Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work. Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” 

"Nothing is as powerful as an idea whose time has come". – Victor Hugo 

Vision at its simplest is the ability to see. Helen Keller was an author, political activist and lecturer, the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. She once said, "The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” The world is desperately in need of people who have a vision! 

In today's verses we read about Nehemiah, a leader with vision. Nehemiah was a government official serving in the Citadel of Susa in the 5th century before Christ. He was a Jewish exile living in a foreign land who heard news about how things were in Jerusalem: that the wall was totally broken down and the gates had been set alight. The Bible tells us that when Nehemiah heard these things he sat down and wept. For some days he mourned and fasted and prayed to God. Clearly Nehemiah had a strong passion for the fate of Jerusalem and compassion for the people who lived there. 

But Nehemiah wasn't just a man of passion and compassion. He was also a man of vision. He asked for and was granted permission to go visit Jerusalem. Once there, he set out at night, not telling anyone else what God put on his heart. He explored the wall, observing the holes and the problems. Only after this survey did he say to the people of Jerusalem, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire.” He began to get a vision for what could change. He thought about his abilities and how he could be part of change and make a difference. Then, in the second part of the verse, he says to people of Jerusalem, 

“Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and then we will no longer be in disgrace". 

The rest of the book of Nehemiah relates how the people rebuilt the Jerusalem wall and then rededicated it to the Lord. There many broken walls in our world and in our society. Perhaps like Jerusalem's walls, there are areas of your city that are are 'broken' - things that might cause you to be moved to tears and to want to fast and pray that things would be different. Maybe, like Nehemiah, God has placed something like this on your heart. 

Q&A: 

Questions for reflection: As you look at the immediate world around you, what is broken'? Can you see how it could be different? How could you be a part of it? Is God giving you a vision for something? 

Action to take: Draw a picture that depicts what you see, how an area you are passionate about could look different. Share it with someone.