Don't be Side-tracked

 “Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they thought to do me harm. 3So 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?”

                                                                               Nehemiah 6:2-3   NKJV

Nehemiah had initiated the re-building of walls of Jerusalem and despite attacks from his enemies, he continued and was almost finished. All he needed to do was hang the gates of Jerusalem. However, further attacks came, this time directed at harming Nehemiah's life. You know, the last part of a task can be the toughest; you may have been on the job for a long time and just want to see the finish of it. But Nehemiah, despite outward pressures, persevered and was almost finished.

Nehemiah knew he could never submit to his enemy's request to meet up with them. He knew that they would attempt to kill him; and he knew that completion of the wall was a most important work. He also knew that you don't leave something important to do something minor and, something that would stop or delay the work of the Lord.

This may be something that you have faced just lately. Vicars, pastors, elders, deacons and children's leaders each have a very important task to do. The work is invaluable to the ministry of the church and, if someone doesn't pull their weight, it can cause problems. Therefore, each leader needs to prioritise the work that they do. If in the middle of their work, they receive a call to drop everything and visit someone, wisdom is required to determine if the call can wait until a more convenient time or, if  someone else can be delegated to to take over from them or attend to the call, if it is suitable. At times like this, there should always be the thought in mind of, 'Is this person taking me away from God's will.'

We see an example of this in Luke 2:48-49, where Mary and Joseph discovered that the young Jesus was not with them: 'Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.  47And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.  48So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” 49And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 50But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.'

Jesus was demonstrating to them, and to us also, that He must put His Father's work first. And this must be our [priority too. Jesus must come first.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now

Lord Jesus, I have sinned. I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today. In Jesus' Name. Amen
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