“I Want To Rebuild It”
Lord, please pay
careful attention to my prayer. Listen to the prayers of all of us. We take
delight in bringing honor to your name. Give me success today. Help King Artaxerxes show me his favor."
I was the king's wine
taster.
Nehemiah 1:11
Wine
was brought in for King Artaxerxes. It was the month
of Nisan in the 20th year of his rule. I got the wine and gave it to him. I
hadn't been sad in front of him before. But now I was. So the king asked me,
"Why are you looking so sad? You aren't sick. You must be feeling sad deep
down inside."
I was really afraid.
But I said to the king, "May you live forever! Why shouldn't I look sad?
The city where my people of long ago are buried has been destroyed. And fire
has burned up its gates."
The king said to me,
"What do you want?"
I prayed to the God
of heaven. Then I answered the king, "Are you pleased with me, King Artaxerxes? If it pleases you, send me to
Nehemiah 2:1-5
Nehemiah
was a cupbearer but he wanted to please God in a way that the king might not
have understood. But the king let him do what God had beckoned Nehemiah to do.
Like
Nehemiah, each of us has been given a unique sphere of influence. Raising
children, church or community work, and employment all provides a platform
where we can have a beneficial effect on others. Has the Lord placed someone in
your life upon whom you can have an influence?
Even a little example can be a big influence for Christ.
Our Daily Bread –