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Inspecting the Walls


So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. And I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my God was putting into my mind to do for Jerusalem and there was no animal with me except the animal on which I was riding. So I went out at night by the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon’s Well and on to the Refuse Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were consumed by fire.  Then I passed on to the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was no place for my mount to pass.  So I went up at night by the ravine and inspected the wall. Then I entered the Valley Gate again and returned.  The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; nor had I as yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials or the rest who did the work. (Nehemiah 2:11-15)

            As I look around, I have the sinking feeling that the condition of the United States is described in these verses. The walls have fallen down. The people who love the land mourn. The people who hate the land rejoice. Most either don't realize what is happening, or they are numb. What can they do? 
           Like Nehemiah, perhaps it is time for us to quietly inspect what remains. What needs to be done to repair that which will protect the people? What is it that will separate us from those who wish to do us harm? I believe the answer is the Church, not all the buildings where Christians congregate, but the people themselves. (I Peter 2:4-8)
            What do you know about the condition of the part of the wall that is your local congregation. I attend a reasonably large church. There are lots of ministries that I don't know anything about. I just know that the ministries are more numerous than most of us realize. I can't tell you what most of the people in my church do outside of church. For the most part, I don't have a clue which of them has been knocked out of place, hammered and burned until they cracked. Most of the time, they probably have no clue that I feel that way. I don't know what encourages or discourages them.
            I know there have been classes offered in which people take inventories to discover their gifts. After that, it seems to be up to us to volunteer. We aren't connected. At least, I'm not connected very securely. Perhaps now is the time for us to start applying the mortar of love between ourselves and the next person. I suspect we don't have long.

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