Through the Bible in 66 Days - Nehemiah

 

Rebuilding What Only God Can Restore — The Gospel Through the Book of Nehemiah

There's something deeply moving about the book of Nehemiah. It's the story of a man who lived far from home, carried responsibilities he never asked for, and yet could not shake the burden God placed on his heart. Nehemiah was born in a foreign land, serving in the Persian court, but his heart never left Jerusalem. When he heard that the city's walls lay in ruins, something inside him broke. The city of God was exposed, vulnerable, and shamed. And Nehemiah knew he had to do something.

That's often how God begins His work—He stirs a heart, He plants a burden, He awakens a vision. But before Nehemiah lifted a stone, he prayed. Before he spoke to the King, he spoke to the King of kings. God's work always begins with God Himself.

A Man Who Prayed Before He Built

Nehemiah's first response to the news was not strategy but sorrow, not planning but praying. He "sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; fasting and praying before the God of heaven," Nehemiah 1:4. That's where all true gospel work begins—not with our strength, but with our weakness; not with our ideas, but with our dependence.

The gospel tells us the same truth. Before we can build anything for God, God must do something in us. The Lord Jesus said, "Without Me you can do nothing," John 15:5. The cross reminds us that salvation is not a human project but a divine rescue. Christ died for the ungodly, rose to give life, and now builds His church through ordinary people who lean entirely on Him.

Nehemiah prayed—and God moved. But here's the surprising thing: God often answers prayer by sending us to be part of the solution. Nehemiah prayed for Jerusalem, and God sent Nehemiah to Jerusalem. The man who prays often becomes the man God uses.

A Vision That Looked Impossible

Rebuilding a wall around a ruined city was no small task. The stones were scattered, the gates burned, the people discouraged, and enemies surrounded them. Yet Nehemiah believed God could do what seemed impossible. He told the people, "The God of heaven will prosper us; therefore, we His servants will arise and build," Nehemiah 2:20.

That's the heartbeat of gospel work. We don't preach Christ because we think people can fix themselves. We preach Christ because only God can rebuild a broken life. Paul wrote, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation," 2 Corinthians 5:17. The gospel is not self‑improvement. It is God doing for us what we could never do for ourselves.

Nehemiah's vision wasn't about stones and mortar. It was about restoring God's honour among His people. Today, the Lord is still building—but not walls. He is building His church, gathering people from every nation into a living temple founded on Christ Himself, Ephesians 2:19–22.

A Work That Needed Everyone

One of the most beautiful chapters in Nehemiah is chapter 3, where there is a long list of names, families, and groups who worked side by side. Goldsmiths, perfumers, rulers, merchants, daughters, priests—everyone found a place on the wall.

God's work has always been a team effort. The gospel doesn't create spectators; it creates servants. Paul reminds us that the church is a body, and "the body is not one member but many," 1 Corinthians 12:14. Every believer has a role. Every gift matters. Every contribution strengthens the whole.

Nehemiah didn't build the wall alone. And no Christian builds the kingdom alone. When God saves us, He places us into a community where we serve, encourage, and strengthen one another.

A Work That Faced Opposition

As soon as the building began, the enemies appeared. Mockery, threats, discouragement, fear—Nehemiah faced it all. But he refused to stop. He prayed, he planned, and he pressed on. At one point, the builders worked with a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other.

The gospel prepares us for the same reality. Following Christ does not remove opposition; it often invites it. Yet we stand firm because Christ has already won the victory. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31. The cross disarms every enemy, and the resurrection guarantees that nothing done for Christ is ever wasted.

A Work That Only God Could Finish

In just fifty‑two days, the wall was completed. It was a miracle of grace, determination, unity, and divine help. But the real miracle was not the wall—it was the renewed hearts of God's people. They gathered to hear the Word, confessed their sins, renewed their covenant, and rediscovered the joy of the Lord.

That's the gospel in miniature. Christ rebuilds what sin has ruined. He restores what was broken. He brings us back to God. And the joy He gives becomes our strength, Nehemiah 8:10.

Rebuilding Today

We may not be stacking stones or hanging gates, but God is still calling His people to build—lives, families, churches, communities shaped by the gospel. Like Nehemiah, we start with prayer. We trust God for the impossible. We work together. We endure opposition. And we keep our eyes on Christ, the One who is building something eternal.

The wall Nehemiah built eventually fell again. But the work Christ is doing will stand forever.

All photos courtesy of Unsplash

Through the Bible in 66 Days - Ezra

 

The Book of Ezra is a story of return, restoration, and renewal. This story begins with broken people in a foreign land and ends with a restored people gathered again around the Word of God. But more than that, it is a story that whispers the gospel. It shows us that God does not abandon His people, even when they have wandered far. He moves history, stirs hearts, and rebuilds lives. Ezra is not simply ancient history; it is a portrait of the God who still saves.

The book opens with a remarkable declaration from Cyrus, king of Persia. After seventy years of exile, God moves the heart of a pagan ruler to send His people home. Ezra wants us to see that this is not a political coincidence but divine compassion. The Lord “stirred up the spirit of Cyrus” (Ezra 1:1). The gospel begins here: salvation is always God’s initiative. As Paul writes, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God acts first. God moves first. God rescues first.

The returning exiles are a small, fragile remnant. They are not impressive. They are not powerful. They are simply people who have been shown mercy. And that is the gospel again. God does not save the strong; He saves the needy. He does not gather the self‑sufficient; He gathers the broken. The returning Jews remind us of the words of the Lord Jesus: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

When the people return to Jerusalem, the first thing they rebuild is not the city walls, nor their homes, nor their economy. They rebuild the altar (Ezra 3:2). Before anything else, they restore worship. They know that their greatest need is not safety or prosperity but reconciliation with God. The gospel tells the same story. Our deepest need is not a better life but a new life. Not self‑improvement but forgiveness. Not a fresh start but a new heart. And that comes only through the sacrifice of Christ, the true altar. Hebrews reminds us that “we have an altar” (Hebrews 13:10)—a place where the perfect sacrifice of Jesus brings us near to God.

After the altar comes the temple foundation. When it is laid, the younger generation shouts for joy, but the older generation weeps (Ezra 3:12). They remember the former glory. They see how far they have fallen. Yet God accepts their mixed emotions. He is patient with their weakness. The gospel shines through again: God meets us where we are, not where we wish we were. Christ does not wait for us to be strong; He comes to us in our frailty. “A bruised reed shall he not break” (Matthew 12:20).

But as soon as the work begins, opposition arises. Enemies discourage, accuse, and intimidate the builders. For years, the work stops. Ezra wants us to understand that God’s work is always contested. The gospel is not a smooth path; it is a narrow one. Yet God is faithful. In His time, He raises up prophets—Haggai and Zechariah—to speak His Word and strengthen His people. And the work begins again. This is the gospel pattern: God sustains what He starts. “He who began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

One book you ought to read more than once!

Although it is impossible to get precise statistics it is clear that the Bible is the world's best-selling and most widely distributed book. A number of years ago the Bible Society did a survey and came to the conclusion that around 2.5 billion copies of the Bible were printed between 1815 and 1975. More up to date figures put the number at more than 5 billion.

The Bible has been translated into 349 languages; 2,123 languages have at least one book of the Bible in that language source - the Bible Society.

Please read the following extract from the Bible. Listen to what God says in His timeless book. It will set you up not just for a year but for the rest of your life, if you believe it.

GQ's list of 21 Books you don't have to read - they got at least one wrong!

Many years ago GQ magazine placed the Bible on its list of "21 Books You Don't Have to Read." This is quite a ridiculous stance even in terms of literature never mind ethics and morals. 

Here are some quotes from famous people about the Bible - they are not all Christians but they testify to the value of reading the Bible:

Language

It is estimated that there are between 5,000 and 7,000 languages throughout the world. Each language has its own alphabet, the majority of them have 26 letters in their alphabet but there are some that differ for example, Hebrew has 22, Arabic has 28, Scandinavian languages have 29, Russian has 33 and so on. As children in primary school we were taught the alphabet of our native tongue but most children have the ability to speak their native language before they go to school.

At the United Nations the representatives for each nation sit at their desks in the debating chamber.  There is a room overlooking the chamber that houses the interpreters who can translate what is being said into the language of their representative country. This reveals to us the importance of having the correct understanding of any communication being made, accuracy is of prime importance. The two main languages spoken in the United Nations building are English and French. Most notices around the building are written in these two languages.  

Do we value the Bible - A reflection

A while ago I was reading about a missionary in Afghanistan who was being taken to small groups of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ by a Christian Afghani guide. The missionary sat down at the side of the dusty road, took off his khaki rucksack removed his Bible and put it on the rough ground while he took a much-needed drink. As he enjoyed the thirst quenching, cool, refreshing water, he was very aware of his guide running towards him crying, ‘Please no!’ 

The guide was upset that the Bible had been placed on the floor, in the dust. The guide picked up the Bible and handed it back to the missionary, he explained just how much he valued God’s word. He had trusted the Lord Jesus Christ through someone telling him the good news of Jesus Christ but had no Bible. He eventually was given a few pages of the Bible; these were so precious to him, and he treasured them and the care that he had ensured that they did not become creased or damaged.

Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it

Passage to read - Psalm 78:12-54

Verse 35 – ‘then they remembered that God was their Rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer’

Are you into history? Do you find it fascinating to talk to old people about their memories? I often forget that old people once were young (sounds pretty obvious) and that they faced lots of situations in life and can teach us so much. One of the problems of being energetic and busy is that you don’t take time to think and learn from others. Maybe you are like that.

Can you still trust the Bible? - The Chester Beattie Collection

About 8 years ago I took a trip to Dublin. It was a great day. Not just in terms of the weather but the whole day was fantastic. I left home at 0430 (groan) and headed for Manchester Airport (with some friends). Ryan Air, despite its very basic approach to budget flying, got us to Dublin on time and in one piece.

Next, into a taxi to be updated by a good Irish taxi driver who was up to date in everything from British politics, Irish news, tourist advice and the movements of the British Royal family. I do love the way taxi drivers know everything. There must a course Taxi drivers are sent on to train them how to absorb information like a sponge, process it and have an idea about most things. Fascinating. 

Jesus - Historical Figure or Hoax?

Well what have I been up to today? I was supposed to be having a day off but I ended up visiting a school and talked to boys and girls about the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. I am reading a brilliant book about Jesus, at the moment. It's called 'More than a carpenter' by Josh McDowell. It's well worth a read.

The Lord Jesus Christ is no ordinary person. I make this statement in the present tense because the Lord Jesus is not just a figure of history but he is, today, still alive in heaven. I don't mean alive in the way we might think about a relative who has died and hope is now in heaven (as a Christian I believe people who have turned from their sin and accepted Jesus as their Saviour will be in heaven when they die but this is not my point at the moment). I mean that Jesus is alive, physically in heaven. Your response might be - impossible and unbelievable! 

The record of the life of Christ is all highly improbable if you ignore the key ingredient, God. I agree that believing that Jesus was more than a man, lived an absolutely faultless life, could do miracles, somehow became accountable for sin and evil and died to pay the price to deal with it on a cross outside Jerusalem and finally three days after his death came back to life. Add to that he lived on earth for forty days after his suffering, death and resurrection and physically rose from the earth and passed through the sky and space into the presence of His Father, God in heaven itself. On a purely rationale level this sounds like I am stretching facts and calling it truth! 

BUT WHAT IF......

A careful analysis of the facts points to Jesus being the Son of God!

The evidence points to it being statistically impossible for the historical predictions (the bible calls them prophecies) being fulfilled accurately being mere coincidence!

It was impossible to deceive so many historians and eye witnesses on a such a grand scale!

The probability of it being the truth is higher than the probability of it being a lie?

I believe that this is the truth of the matter. I believe that the evidence to the authenticity of the bible is there if you care to look for it. I believe there is no other honest conclusion that you can come to about who Jesus is if you are prepared to genuinely look at the facts.

In support of this the bible clearly states: 'these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life in his name', John 20:31. 

Visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk for more information. 

Books

Books have been published and produced for hundreds of years. Some people predicted their demise with the advent of modern technology, such as Kindles and other electronic devices for reading. 

However, as a visit to a bookshop makes clear, books are still being produced in large quantities in hard copy, both hardback and paperback. There are still vast numbers of people who love to hold a book and turn the pages, and many also find looking at a screen a numbing and difficult experience.  

Reading is vital for education and the gaining of information. The Apostle Paul, right up to the end of his life, maintained his reading regime as he asked, in the last letter he wrote addressed to Timothy, that books be forwarded to him and also the parchments (2 Timothy 4.13). The Apostle John, in a statement of hyperbole or exaggeration to make a point, said, "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written everyone, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written." (John 21.25). He indicates that we only have a sample in the Gospel accounts of the wonders and miracles performed by Jesus.