Unity

Re:Verse passage – Nehemiah 5:6-13 (day four)

We’ve reached a time of conflict in Nehemiah’s mission, and it’s coming both external and internal sources. Last week we discussed the conflict coming from outsiders, and this week the issues are coming from within God’s people. There are interesting differences in how Nehemiah handles these forms of conflict.

When facing oppression from outsiders, Nehemiah doesn’t seem to engage the mockery or threats. He simply offers his honest feelings to the Lord, appoints guards around the city, and carries on with the work of building the wall.

When conflict arises amongst the people of God, though, things are different. They are called to a higher standard, one of spiritual unity. When economic injustice persists among them, it is not only a social or physical issue, but a spiritual one. Nehemiah recognized that every level of communal life held a spiritual component, which meant this issue of injustice was worth his time and attention. It was worth any resulting delays to the wall construction, because unity among the people of God has always been and will always be a marker of the Kingdom, more so than any wall or monument.

What issues of injustice exist among God’s people today? What is God calling you to do to address them?