Two-Minute Manna

Notice that Nehemiah didn’t say he was doing a great job. Rather, he said, “I’m involved in a great work. You guys thought it was hapless or hopeless. But I see it as holy and glorious.”

Nehemiah’s name means “comforter from God.” Thus, the “Nehemiah” within us - the Holy Spirit - is doing a great work in us both corporately and individually. Yet, because the enemy wants us to doubt this, we need to learn the lesson of Simeon. The promise had been given to him that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. After waiting all his life for this promise to be fulfilled, the Spirit led him to the Temple.

“This is it!” he must have thought. “I will see Messiah at last!”

I’m sure he listened for the sound of chariot wheels and soldiers marching. Surely Messiah would be a military leader who would rescue the Jews from Roman oppression.

But all Simeon heard was a Baby’s cry.

At that moment, he had a choice to make. He could have thought, “This is what I’ve been waiting for all my life? A Baby? What a waste!”

Instead, he did what I’m challenging us to do. He took the Baby and said, “I bless You, Father. I believe what You are going to do is mighty and massive” (see Luke 2).

I wonder if the Spirit hasn’t given you a vision in your mind or a desire in your heart that you know is of Him. When it comes, will you choose to embrace it regardless of how small or weak it initially might seem? Will you, like Simeon, choose to say, “I believe this is the beginning of the fulfillment of what You promised, Lord”?

“Too much rubbish!” some will proclaim.

“It will never last,” others will protest.

“Even a fox will knock it down,” others will predict.

Will you be the one to say, “No, it’s a great work the Lord is doing”? It might not be exactly what you were expecting or what you envisioned. But if you choose to embrace it as from God, you, like Nehemiah, will exhibit the one quality necessary for His work: faith (Hebrews 11:6).