Family Teams: Generations

One of my favorite men of the Old Testament is Nehemiah. Visionary ( 2: 11-18), com-
passionate (1:1-4), strong in the Lord, prayerful (1:4-11). Nehemiah was a man who remained faithful to God, to his calling in God no matter what his station in life was. He was a man who knew to count the cost before building (2:11-18). Nehemiah was a leader who motivated God's people to do the right thing (2:18) and he knew how to handle the mockers and complainers (2:19-20). Reasons enough to stop and take notice in our twenty-first century!

Chapter 3, the entire chapter, is devoted to a long list of FAMILY teams Nehemiah had gathered together to get the work done (that means he was an organizer too). It's not a short list either. Every family, name after name. Sons, fathers, grandsons, daughters. Wait, DAUGHTERS? Yes! (3:11-12). People of God responding to God's leader at a time of tremendous loss and hardship of captivity. All had been set free for the time to rebuild the wall. God gave His people favor in the most difficult of times and He had the right leader in Nehemiah to get the work done. Each family had their own project. Their gifts were being used in the area where they were needed.

The mayor of a certain district was there working for the church (3:14). One entire town showed up to work on one gate and ended up repairing 1,500 feet of the wall too! Can't stop those motivated-by-God's-love people! And then there was Meshullam who rebuilt the wall in front of his storage shed (3:30). We all go in the strength we have!

Families building, getting the work done for God. It didn't matter what they had been through, they were there with ONE purpose...to do the will of God. When His people are called and equipped, moving in the power of His might, there is no stopping the work.

In Nehemiah 3 we have the family legacy passed down for our encouragement. How very important it is to pass down our own legacy of our generation! Never give up on what God has called you to do, children are watching, learning, planning. Get started today on what God wants you to do and build.

All scriptures are from The Message.