Today, we hear that because of Nehemiah’s success in getting the people of Jerusalem to repair the city’s walls – the enemies of Judah decide to wage war. As Selwyn says: “(Nehemiah) turns once more to prayer (when he hears the disturbing news); ‘We prayed to God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.’ I think that prayer came first and that the action to post guards, followed – Nehemiah reminded the people that their Lord was ‘great and awesome’. He renewed their faith in God and encouraged them to believe that they could defend their city – with God’s help.
 ”Fear can only be overcome with faith; not faith in oneself but faith in God.”
When reading this I was reminded of 1 John 4:15-18: “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears in not perfect in love.”
Even if an enemy attacks and takes our earthly life; we know that when we acknowledge that Jesus is God and that He sacrificed Himself to pay the penality for our sins – we, full of His love – can drive out all fear so that we can be assured that we will share eternity with Him in heaven – that is, there will be no fear in meeting God when we die. So what’s stopping you from rebuilding your spiritual walls?
Faith versus fear
Today, we hear that because of Nehemiah’s success in getting the people of Jerusalem to repair the city’s walls – the enemies of Judah decide to wage war. As Selwyn says: “(Nehemiah) turns once more to prayer (when he hears the disturbing news); ‘We prayed to God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.’ I think that prayer came first and that the action to post guards, followed – Nehemiah reminded the people that their Lord was ‘great and awesome’. He renewed their faith in God and encouraged them to believe that they could defend their city – with God’s help.
 ”Fear can only be overcome with faith; not faith in oneself but faith in God.”
When reading this I was reminded of 1 John 4:15-18: “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears in not perfect in love.”
Even if an enemy attacks and takes our earthly life; we know that when we acknowledge that Jesus is God and that He sacrificed Himself to pay the penality for our sins – we, full of His love – can drive out all fear so that we can be assured that we will share eternity with Him in heaven – that is, there will be no fear in meeting God when we die. So what’s stopping you from rebuilding your spiritual walls?