After years of warning His people to repent, God allowed Judah to experience exile. Seventy years later, they returned to a ruined land—and Nehemiah, granted favor by the king of Persia, came back to Jerusalem to repair its broken walls. When he saw the devastation, he wept. But in today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef reminds us that Nehemiah did not stop at sorrow. He asked what God would have him do—and then he got to work.
Nehemiah chapter 3 gives believers a powerful blueprint for rebuilding what is broken around us. First, God’s work requires all hands on deck. The repeated phrase “next to them” shows the people standing side by side, each one contributing to the mission. When the Church prayerfully works together, God blesses the labor of His people.
Second, there is work for everyone. Nehemiah’s people did not merely hope for change or pray from a distance—they cooperated, served, and took responsibility. In the same way, every believer has a role in God’s mission, and no one is insignificant in His Kingdom.
Finally, God’s people must encourage and affirm one another in the work. Anyone can complain, criticize, or scoff, but it takes a heart surrendered to God to say, “I want my life to count for something great for Him.” As we confirm a servant spirit, godly character, commitment to the Lord, and faithful obedience, God revives our hearts and bears witness through us to the world that Jesus Christ is the only true foundation.
Let us pray.
Precious Lord, give me eyes to see my gifts and wisdom to use them for Your Kingdom in the body of believers. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today’s devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don’t have to walk through it alone.
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