“It’s worth the risk!” Have you ever heard that statement? So often, people make the choice to “play it safe,” when God is calling us to come out of our comfort zones to do something mighty! Nehemiah had everything to lose and nothing to gain…by the world’s standards. He was in an elevated position serving the most powerful king in the world, yet he saw beyond the comfort to the crisis. As a result, he took the risk of his life trying to engage this prideful king to be his advocate. It worked! Amazingly, the king respected Nehemiah enough to give him the time and resources that he needed to fulfill his vision to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. With the king’s stamp of approval, Nehemiah got busy. Instead of taking his time and resting easy, he immediately began to strategize how to achieve his goal. He first thought of those who would be obstacles to his cause, so he prepared to overcome them by “rounding up” support. Then, he took time to survey the land. In essence, he began to strategize. Lastly, he made every effort to convince his fellow Jews that this was a worthy project. Through it all, Nehemiah demonstrated some of the greatest leadership ever recorded in the Word of God. What kind of risk are you willing to take for the glory of God? Here’s another phrase you’ve probably heard over the years: “You’ll never know unless you try!” Do you embody that spirit? What about pushbacks? So, often we don’t want to experience pain or pressure, so we avoid it altogether by doing little to nothing. Nehemiah was not afraid of people who might challenge his cause; at least he wasn’t afraid enough to quit. When we think about the task that Nehemiah was taking on, one thing really stands out – he trusted God and was intentional from Day 1! How intentional are you being to fulfill God’s Will for your life? Nehemiah not only prepared for pushbacks, but he also intentionally and strategically motivated his fellow Jews to come alongside him to help fulfill his vision. Ultimately, we need community – the kind of community that passionately follows our plan to influence people. Nehemiah is the “poster child” for taking a worthy risk. What about you? It might be time to “step up” for Jesus!
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