BE CAREFUL WHO YOU LISTEN TO

TUESDAY AUGUST18

“Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Neh 6:3 NIV

BE CAREFUL WHO YOU LISTEN TO

Like David’s older brother Eliab, there will always be people who try to discourage you from killing the giant in your life or taking on any other God-given assignment (see1Sa17:28). Their resistance could be due to the fact that “misery loves company.” Or that they’re projecting their fear and lack of faith onto you. Or it could be envy; they resent your attempt to do what they are afraid to do. And this is even more so when you succeed where they have failed. Whatever their motivation and intention may be, you may have to stand alone in your quest. Nehemiah’s enemies tried every trick in the book to deter him from rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. They were relentless. Notice how he handled their opposition: “Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: ‘Come, let us meet together.’ But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent...this reply: ‘I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?’ Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer” (Neh 6:2-4 NIV). Nehemiah remained steadfast in what he knew God had called him to do, and you must too. You must be willing to take the put-downs, the envy, the distractions, the discouraging words, and all other opposition and stand on God’s Word: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Ro 8:31 NIV). So the word for you today is—be careful to whom you listen.