"A Mind to Work" 8/11/26

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

When the walls of Jerusalem lay in ruins and the people lived without protection, 

Nehemiah heard the news and God used him to set in motion the rebuilding of the walls. 

"And they (the people) said "let us rise up and build." So they strengthened their hands for the good work" (Nehemiah 2:18 ESV)

The verse above tells us that the people set their minds and hands to the task. 

The next chapter, chapter three of Nehemiah, lists all the people who helped build and what part of the wall they worked on. One after another we read about how so and so rebuilt from x to y and then next person built from y to z, and on they worked around the city. Each one was needed (men, women, priests, laymen, rulers, along with their servants) and each one did their part (except a few proud noblemen who "would not stoop to serve their Lord" v5). Without each of them doing their part, without each one persevering when opposition came, the work would not have been completed. 

We don't have a physical wall to build in Cardston, but there is a lesson here for us. We are called as Christ's people to build His Church, Each of you is needed (see 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 for more on this truth). The question is "will you join in the work?" When God's people are scattered, busy about their own concerns and troubles, the walls lie defenseless, half formed and vulnerable to attack. But when the people of God band together to build Christ's Kingdom there is safety. None of us can do it alone, there is a time to give and a time to receive, but always we must strive to work together to see the advance of Christ's Kingdom by His grace. 

In the middle of the opposition Nehemiah faced, he makes a brief comment: "So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for all the people had a mind to work" (Nehemiah 4:6 ESV)

Do you have a mind to work, to put blood, sweat, and tears into the work of the Kingdom of Heaven? One way or another, God will accomplish his purposes and bring glory to his name, but he invites you and I to invest our lives in His service. Will you? God has laid out a glorious vision for the church in Cardston, to be a light on a hill, a fortress of refuge in an evil age. Will you find a portion of the wall to help build? 

There are many areas in particular that we need help building. 

Off the top of my head there is...

Youth Group [helping / hosting / babysitting our kids so we can more effectively focus on the Youth]. A big thank you to those who have already volunteered to help during the month of August!

Setting up and Taking down after Sunday gatherings

Tech support 

Evangelism/Ministries of Mercy

And this is not exhaustive, we could add our continual need for gifts of hospitality, encouragement, administration, etc. 

But enough examples, the question for you and I is "Do I have a mind to work?" 

In Christ's Service,

Matt