Do you feel concerned ?

"I want you to know what a great fight I have for you, for those who are in Laodicea and for all those who have never seen me in person." Colossians 2: 1

There is a simple way to avoid a lot of worries : it is not to worry about others ! But this is not Paul's attitude towards the brothers and sisters of the Colossians. He is really interested in what concerns them, even if it must prevent him from sleeping as has happened elsewhere (1 Thessalonians 3: 10).

Nor is it the attitude of Nehemiah, a high-ranking Jewish official, a personal adviser to Artaxerxes the First Long-Hand, Persian sovereign who reigned from AD 465 to 425 BC. AD

Let us examine a little more closely Nehemiah's way of acting, as he relates it in the first chapter of his book :

- Men come from the land of Israel, where those who returned there in the time of Ezra 13 years ago. Although born outside his own country, Nehemiah is animated with a real interest for his brethren in Jerusalem and interrogates those who return (Jer. 1: 2). To ask such questions is to take the risk of being questioned by the answers, to leave a sense of responsibility disturbing our tranquility.

 - The news is bad ; Nehemiah did not react with fatalism and pride in the style : "What misery ! There is no more piety ! Where are we going ?" No, he feels solidarity and co-responsibility for what is happening. He then turns to God and humbly acknowledges that he is no better than the others (Neh 1: 4-7).

- Nehemiah does not merely humiliate himself, but intercedes. In his intercessions, he appeals to the promises God has made.

- Nehemiah does not limit himself to praying ; he is implicated in presenting himself to be the answer to his prayer, to become the instrument God will use to solve the problem. Intercede is one thing ; getting involved personally and physically in a difficult situation is another (Neh. 1:11).

- Finally, having drawn his strength in prayer, Nehemiah certainly acts in weakness and fear, but with determination. Instead of taking advantage of his privileged position in the royal court, he undertakes a perilous journey to Jerusalem, the ruined city, to serve the Lord by paying for himself and his goods.

Source (To pleasing the Lord)