BBD 08.20.13 Distractions II (Classic)
Posted by: theburningbushdevotional <theburningbushdevotional@...>
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The Burning Bush Devotional
14,000 Subscribers
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Classic from 2006
08.20.13
Distractions II
Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of
our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks
left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), that
Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together among
the villages in the plain of Ono." But they thought to do me harm. So I
sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work, so that I
cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to
you?” But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same
manner. - Nehemiah 6:1-4.
In the Mexican state of Chiapas, four people were killed
over a dispute about repair of a pothole. Violence is reported to be common in
some of the more remote areas of Mexico. Two families were involved in the
argument. One family closed off the street to repair a pothole that had
resulted from heavy rains, however, there was another family that owned a
transport company and they needed to drive a truck through the street. An
argument began with insults, physical violence, and finally weapons were used
in the fight including an AR-15. The pothole has now been repaired but not
until the destruction of four lives, which can never be repaired. As the
apostle Paul tells us violence was not the best solution to the problem, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans
12:21)."
Not only are there daily duties, obligations,
emergencies, and unexpected obstacles that will be encountered in our lives; in
addition, there are at times people who will try to derail you from your
devotion to the Lord. It may be tempting to use inappropriate means of response
and this must be avoided. When possible use such situations as an opportunity
to share how important your faith is to you and the difference it makes in your
life. However, you must always be aware the possibility that the distraction is
not a distraction but an opportunity for service or witness. Always be aware to
the movement of the Holy Spirit in those situations. Listen for His voice.
Nehemiah continually kept the main thing the main thing.
He had come to build a wall around Jerusalem and he was going to build a wall.
Nehemiah faced threats and subversion but he continued on, and he encouraged
the people to continue on.
You too will face outside interference in your devotion
to the Lord. Sometimes, it may be just as difficult to deal with - as friends,
your husband, your wife, or children, will have something better for you to be
doing than serving the Lord or spending time with Him. You too, in the face of
such opposition, such interference, and such distractions must be steadfast as
was Nehemiah. As Nehemiah responded to those trying to distract Him - you
should respond as well. Nehemiah told them, "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the
work cease while I leave it and go down to you?"
Copyright © 2006-2013. Ed
Wrather. The Burning Bush website has been online since January 31, 1998. On
June 8, 1998 the email version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.
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