Building One Another

NEXT TO Vol 8 No 42

November 10, 2009

Dear Friend,

 As I write this I am flying to a city where coworker will join me.  A great question for any endeavor you find yourself engaged in is, “Who is with me?”

As Mark 3:14* begins, “He appointed twelve… that they might be with him…”

From this we have the “With-me” principle of Jesus.  Jesus rarely did anything alone.  “Come to me,” he said.  “Follow me,” he said.  “Where I am there you will be with me,” he said.  We model the life of Jesus when we ask people to be with us.

We see a wonderful picture of this with-ness in the story of Nehemiah as he led the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem.

For example, in the third chapter of Nehemiah we read, “Above the Horse Gate, the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house. Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house. Next to him, Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the guard at the East Gate, made repairs. Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berekiah made repairs opposite his living quarters.” Nehemiah 3:28-30

All told the words “next to” occur some eighteen times in that chapter.  Every person knew what her or his task was and who was next to them - to support one another, protect one another and to help one another as needed.

So, I ask you, in whatever endeavor you engage, who is with you?  Pray, “Lord, who do you want me to focus on?  Who do You want with me?”

As you begin to discern those you want “next to” you, take courage, ask them to be with you and trust God for your future.

With joy - E. Stanley Ott

For more on the “With-me”principle,  check out "The Joy of Discipling."     

Copyright 2009 E. Stanley Ott

*Scripture from the NIV