For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14.

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17.

One of the reasons I love this book of Scripture is that Nehemiah is a man who can get things done. Not just the physical things that need to be done by many working together, but in inspiring others to see God’s heart for every person. The poor in Jerusalem are being oppressed by their own wealthier people. It’s so bad they are having to sell their own children into slavery, Nehemiah 5:1-5. Nehemiah confronted them and he confronts us: “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? v. 9. Nehemiah is the governor of the land of Judah and has been governor for the 12 years King Artaxerxes has allowed him to help the rebuilding. He took no special favors and worked right alongside others working hard. Out of his reverence for God he did what was right in God’s eyes.

What is the point of this life if we spend it hurting others? God has rescued us out of the dominion of darkness. We can’t control others but we can turn to our Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit – and let Him show us a better way. All of the “goodness” of this world cannot begin to compare to the Goodness that is our God who not only created all things but holds all things together.

There was a parable Jesus told about a rich man and a poor man. We don’t know the name of the rich man but we see in this parable, Luke 16:19-31, that he considered the poor man, Lazarus, worthy only to do his bidding even in death. Can you imagine? He thought Lazarus should be his servant even in death. Does God think that way? In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8. Can we begin to fathom so great a love for all of us? Can we stop and ask Him to help us understand so great a love and with His love for us, begin to see others as worthy of His love and ours? I know it’s hard. I know how awful people can be. So does God see. That makes His love all the more amazing. Seeing in this world today the atrocities carried out by “enemies” helps me understand a little better the Psalms of David. He was surrounded by enemies too great for him and wrote wrenchingly about them. David chose trust in God. So can we. The glaring difference between this world and all of the evil – and God submitting to death to bring us out of that death is staggering. God will bring His Goodness to this world and we will all of us have the opportunity to see God’s love in action. God holds all things together with His love and it is wondrous and beautiful. Trust Him. The evil in this world is temporary. God’s love is eternal.