“and when he (Jesus) drew near and saw the city, he wept over it…” luke 19:41
nehemiah, in the old testament, has a strikingly similar story. he loved his city and he wept over it – the very same city Jesus weeps over 400 years later. but he didn’t stop there. he did something about it. he united a people to rebuild the city. in the process the temple was rebuilt. his life helped transformed a city. his life had a lasting impact on the Kingdom.
he was a man and leader that wouldn’t get too much buzz or tmz action if he was around today.
he wasn’t your celebrity christian.
he wasn’t even a pastor.
he worked a regular job, just like us.
he was the cupbearer to the king of babylon – a job that was secret service duty (making sure the drinks were not poisoned) meets chief of staff (hey, any man who is putting his life on the line like that deserves to be listened to).
but, God used him greatly.
because God used him exactly where he was.
his people, the israelites were in captivity and scattered thanks to the babylonian exile. jerusalem was left empty. jerusalem was pillaged of everything good and destroyed – including the temple. this once proud city was turned into the ancient equivalent of the modern day projects or ghetto.
maybe it looked like toker town near downtown fullerton.
maybe it looked like that run down street or apartment complex near your house, the one you pass all the time but never think about.
restoring and transforming this city became his life’s work. he lived his life in a way that demanded an explanation. nehemiah traded the comfort of the palace for the hardships of the ghetto.
what sacrifices, like nehemiah, do you need to make to love your city?
how will you serve your city?
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