(This article was shared to Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Pelita Harapan, on Faculty Christmas Celebration, Dec 15, 2014)
We are now entering the 15th day of December – the last month of the year. It seems that we just started the year 2014 not so long ago.
A well-known proverb says: “Time Flies When We are Having Fun.”
If this applies to us too, it means that we are certainly having fun. This also means that we have a lot to do that we don’t realize time has passed us by.
The Question is:
What kind of activities are we so involved in that we don’t realize time flies so fast and we are now at the end of the year?
When doing these activities, what do we focus on? Are doing activities that are in accordance with our calling to be the ambassador of the Kingdom of God?
So, the point is: Are we focusing on Self or Christ? Are we dedicating the time and activities for our Glory or for God’s glory?
Approaching Christmas time, perhaps this is the best time for us to be reminded to appreciate God’s greatest gift of love: Sending His only begotten Son: Jesus Christ to be our Savior.
We are reminded that our job, our work, our responsibilities are just the tools, the instruments to tell HIS STORY to the world around us.
Have we put Christ in the center of the decision we are making every day or are we putting ourselves, our leaders, or other people in the center instead of Christ.
Now, let’s switch the gear of our life journey to focus on Christ to make impactful life that glorify God.
So, what’s the big plan, big responsibilities that God has prepared for us to do this year?
In terms of carrying out our great mission and calling, we are going to learn from Nehemiah.
Let’s read Nehemiah 6: 16
16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.
Ketika semua musuh kami mendengar hal itu, takutlah semua bangsa sekliling kami. Mereka sangat kehilangan muka dan menjadi sadar, bahwa pekerjaan itu dilaksanakan dengan bantuan Allah kami.
What did Nehemiah do that made him successful in his mission that brought positive impact to his nation?
1. Nehemiah started his work by involving God (he prayed and fast)
Nehemiah involved God (Nehemiah 1: 4)
4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept.F)" >(F) For some days I mourned and fastedG)" >(G) and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said:
Ketika kudengar berita ini, duduklah aku menangis f dan berkabung selama beberapa hari. Aku berpuasa g dan berdoa 2 ke hadirat Allah semesta langit,
Nehemiah 1: 11
11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king.
Ya, Tuhan, berilah telinga s kepada doa hamba-Mu ini dan kepada doa hamba-hamba-Mu yang rela takut akan nama-Mu, dan biarlah hamba-Mu berhasil hari ini dan mendapat belas kasihan t dari orang ini 1 ." Ketika itu aku ini juru minuman u raja.
· He cried and prayed (Nehemiah 1: 4)
· He admitted his sin and asked for forgiveness (Nehemiah 1: 6)
· He asked God for help (Nehemiah 1: 11)
2. Nehemiah built good relationships and communicated with people around him, the authorities to talk about his plan
(Nehemiah 2: 7 - 8)
7 I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? 8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me," the king granted my requests.
2:7
Berkatalah aku kepada raja: "Jika raja menganggap baik, berikanlah aku surat-surat bagi bupati-bupati di daerah seberang sungai Efrat, a supaya mereka memperbolehkan aku lalu sampai aku tiba di Yehuda.
2:8
Pula sepucuk surat bagi Asaf, pengawas taman raja, supaya dia memberikan aku kayu untuk memasang balok-balok pada pintu-pintu gerbang di benteng b bait suci, untuk tembok kota dan untuk rumah yang akan kudiami." Dan raja mengabulkan permintaanku c itu, karena tangan Allahku yang murah melindungi aku 2 . d
3. Nehemiah prepared everything well
Nehemiah 2:13
13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackala Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire.
Demikian pada malam hari aku keluar melalui pintu gerbang Lebak, j ke jurusan mata air Ular Naga dan pintu gerbang Sampah. k Aku menyelidiki dengan seksama tembok-tembok l Yerusalem yang telah terbongkar dan pintu-pintu gerbangnya yang habis dimakan api.
· Conduct needs analysis: Analysis of self and the city (diri dan kota)
· Getting help from people
4. Nehemiah took action: motivating his colleagues to take action too
Nehemiah 2:18
8 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.
They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.
Ketika kuberitahukan kepada mereka, betapa murahnya tangan Allahku yang melindungi aku r dan juga apa yang dikatakan raja kepadaku, berkatalah mereka: "Kami siap untuk membangun!" Dan dengan sekuat tenaga mereka mulai melakukan pekerjaan yang baik itu.
What about us? We have been chosen by God to take part in a great mission to educate the students at FoN. What part of responsibilities did God put in our heart to take part in?
Do we see our job as just a job to earn money, to pursue career? Do we see it as a way to serve God to tell His story to build the people around us?
Find out the needs of the people around us, communicate with them, build relationships, and involve God.
Involve God to win the battle. We are just the executor of His plan. Ask God to reveal His plan.
Ask for forgiveness…. forgive people … pray…. make plans…. set up strategies with God’s wisdom … tell His story to build people and to make them disciples.
Without God there is no progress, no impact, nothing.
So, involve God, pray, and take action with God in the center and in the lead.
And, pray until something happens.
Let’s end this session by reading John 3: 16.
We are reminded that we have received the greatest gift, the greatest love of all. This is a very good reason to share His love, tell His story to glorify Him.
John 3: 16
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
To God be the glory.
Amen.
lesson_of_rebuilding_english.docx |