Distracted

Last time I talked about the dangers of taking on the task of becoming transformed into the character of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. This time we look at the enemies tactic once direct threats don't work.

In Nehemiah 6 we see two old adversaries up to their old tricks, just as our old adversary, the Devil, never gives up, only changes his tactics.

When Sanballat and Tobiah hear that Nehemiah was rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem they first tried to get Nehemiah to engage them in conversation about it - but Nehemiah would not stop the work to talk about it. Often the enemy wants us to engage in self talk about whether we should fully commit out lives to God.

Instead, Nehemiah said "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" (6:3). Don't engage the enemy in this attempt. One, you will be in danger of talking yourself out of the task, and two, while you are reconsidering you are stopping the work.

When that didn't work these guys sent an open letter trying to say that Nehemiah had taken over as king. It impugned his motivations and questioned his goals. Becoming like our Lord is not for our glory but for his alone. People might question you, call you "goody two shoes" or make open accusations against you before others. Don't let that deter you either.

Finally Sanballat and Tobiah actually hired a false prophet to try to lure Nehemiah into stopping by suggesting there was a plot to kill him. With God's wisdom Nehemiah saw through it. The idea was to get Nehemiah to hide away for fear. The enemy taunts us with what might happen to us too: "what will people think of you if you stop doing that?" "Love your enemies? They'll wipe the floor with you!" and the like.

Let our prayer be like Nehemiah's who said: "But now, O God, strengthen my hands."

Pastor Tom