| “So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths & sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness.” – Nehemiah 8:17 |
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| From GREAT DISTRESS to VERY GREAT GLADNESS AND THERE WAS VERY GREAT GLADNESS. Let that statement sink in. It sure sounds like everyone is having a great time. And they were. There was VERY GREAT GLADNESS! That is the description of God’s people in Nehemiah 8:17. Now for us to truly get the significance of that statement is to recall that the book of Nehemiah did not start with God’s people experiencing great gladness but rather with Nehemiah being told “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress.” They were in GREAT DISTRESS. The legacy of Nehemiah is he took people from GREAT DISTRESS to GREAT GLADNESS. Let us take a moment to consider how he did it as we should be desiring to help others move from great distress to very great gladness. As you look at the book of Nehemiah and the life of Nehemiah you will see it started with his burden and his burden would eventually bring about many blessings. His broken heart for a place moved him to rebuild walls and his broken heart for people moved him to rebuild lives. He heard and then saw with his own eyes the distress they we in. He then dreamed how things could be different. With dependence on God and determination of heart, Nehemiah diligently was a DOER, not just a talker. These actions brought about real change! Changes that are summed up in the conclusion of Nehemiah 8:17 as there was VERY GREAT GLADNESS! Friends, LOOK AROUND and see the distress of your neighborhood, your city, your state, your country, your world. Maybe you even need to look at the distress of your home, your church, your school, etc. See the distress and decide to get involved to MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Don’t just dream about it, DO SOMETHING! I know there has been the challenge to DARE to be a DANIEL (BE DIFFERENT) but I would ADD, DARE to be a NEHEMIAH and MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Dare to be a Daniel and be DIFFERENT. Dare to be a NEHEMIAH and MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Verse to DATE the Word on August 17 (8/17) is Nehemiah 8:17. It says, “So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths & sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness.” Do something today to move someone from great distress to great, very great gladness. Continue Strong as a DIFFERENCE MAKER And remember to DATE the Word |