God Speaking

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work”

(Ecclesiastes 4: 9)

Perhaps one of the most amazing stories about mending broken walls, is the recording in the book of Nehemiah of how the Israelites bonded together with the return of the exiled ones and those who had been left behind, to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. It was certainly a team effort with everyone pulling together with a common goal which was the centre of everyone’s activity.

We witnessed a similar purpose driven event just recently when spring rains and rapid snow melt brought about major flooding in rural towns.  The television recorded the chaos that unchecked water can bring about and the danger to unprotected houses.  It was so uplifting to see how the people in those towns responded to the need and picture after picture showed men, women and young adults filling sand bags and building up walls with these sand bags to stop the flow of water to homes and other buildings. There were wonderful stories of neighbours going the extra mile, not just worrying about their own properties, but helping others to build those all, important sand bag walls, mending others if the bags gave way, a great example of mending broken walls.

Sometimes in our spiritual walk we have broken walls in our own lives and in lives around us. A loss of a job can collapse a family’s ability to survive, also causing a collapse of one’s self confidence. A loss of a dear one can make us feel that life is crumbling around us. Within our church family others may have doubts about their own worthiness and need to have their faith strengthened. Paul writes to the Ephesians urging them to build each other up and to be aware of who needs this help.

“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Ephesians 4: 16)

Somebody was remarking on how disaster draws people together, just as the floods drew neighbours together, but as followers of Christ we are asked not to be motivated only by major events that happen, but to have our minds and our hearts open always to be aware of those that the Lord is especially wanting us to help. Paul encourages the Thessalonians in doing just this and urges them to keep on building one another up;

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5: 11)

During the worst of the flooding there were emergency numbers set up for those in distress to call and we too have an emergency number that is always available for us. We too may feel that walls of safety around us have cracks in them and need mending. God’s word is the sure foundation we need and again it is Paul that gives us this good advice;

“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20: 32)