Posting Guards

“They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.” Nehemiah 4:8-9.

When the opposing leaders of their surrounding regions saw that God’s chosen were successfully rebuilding the wall they became incensed and plotted to overcome Jerusalem. What did Nehemiah do? We are not surprised to find him on his knees since that has been the power behind the project since Neh. 1:1.

We have an enemy who surrounds us and looks on our attempts in building walls for God with contempt and anger. Every nail we pound, every bolt we insert and every bar we secure in the gates and walls of God’s kingdom sends Satan into a tantrum. While he has many weapons in his arsenal, we have the crushing weapon of access to God through prayer. In every endeavor for God we have been assigned to that place to work for Him. We only have to go to Him in prayer and ask for His protection against the opposition. God will guard us but His word imparts our responsibilities in guarding ourselves.

1 Timothy 6:20 instructs us to ‘Guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and opposing ideas.’

Proverbs 4:13 instructs us to ‘Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.’

Proverbs 4:23 instructs us ‘Above all else, guard your heart.’

Our confidence can be complete when we implement these three verses as purpose, guidance and attitude. We all have an area in which God has entrusted us for His work. We all have guidance from God regarding the manner in which we are to follow Him in His work. Above all else, we must allow our hearts to remain humble, grateful and committed in His work. Our attitude has feet and it will take us wherever it wants to go. God expects us to complete the work for which He has called us. ‘See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord…Remember my chains. Grace be to you.’ Col 4:17-18. Paul understood the power of this process in guarding what God had given him to complete, in staying committed to the revelations of God, and always guarding the attitude of his heart.

While Paul was bound by chains, we have a Savior who was bound by ropes on the cross. Because of Jesus Christ guarding and staying committed to the work that had been entrusted to Him, His chains bought our freedom. He completed the work and we are recipients of the grace that was bought for us.