“Now when the wall was rebuilt and I had installed the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites were appointed, then I put Hanani my brother, and Hananiah the commander of the citadel, in charge of Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many. Then I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot, and while they are standing guard, the gatekeepers are to keep the doors shut and bolted. Also appoint guards from the inhabitants of Jerusalem, each at his post, and each in front of his own house.”Now the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few and the houses were not built. Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials, and the other people to be enrolled by genealogies. Then I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up first, in which I found the following record…” (Nehemiah 7:1-5 NASB)
This is your Monday Short meditation. In one of our four Bible Study classes last week, as we looked at chapter 7 of The Book of Nehemiah, seeking to prove that all Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable, Sis. Val was the first person in our Thursday class to identify an extract from the assigned chapter and to describe why it was profitable. What I am about to share with you in a succinct way is only one of several extracts identified by participants. All the contributions by attendees were so enlightening, edifying, and easy to apply to our lives. Now that’s profitable, right?
Yet, I chose Sis, Val’s contribution to the class because it should send a message to all believers, including you. She noted how many times the word “Then” was mentioned in just a few verses. She pointed out that after the wall was completed, there was some continuous work to be done by God’s people.
The profitable takeaway for us is that there should always be a “Then” in our continuous journey as the Lord’s disciples. He has left us with a great work, a big assignment filled with pre-work and milestones along the way. We are to make disciples! We are to recruit them and retain them in the kingdom. To do that, there needs to be some insertions of “Then” as it applies to our work for the Lord. My friend, our assignment should be viewed as a forever task while we are on this earth, doing what the Lord commanded us on our way to our forever home in Glory. So, regardless of what we accomplish or have accomplished, there should always be another “Then.” Even when performing the same task, as we get better, expectations are raised higher. Therefore, as we strive to excel in our service for God, there should be something that comes next, and next should be not only additional, but it should be admirably better that what was done previously. There should be a “Then.”
How is the “Then” in your life? Surely, you have not got comfortable with your status quo, right? You are committed to the climb, right? Great! So, keep adding more “Then” for the benefit and expansion of God’s kingdom. Have a great week! Be blessed!
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King
My then is continuous and should seemingly excel in purpose and meaning than the previous then. Saying that entails greater commitment in studying the word. I’m not there yet and am striving to be more connected for my next then.
As always, you reflect from a personal perspective and recognize applicability Be blessed!