Leaders Share the Vision

Is the Lord speaking to you about brokenness or need in your neighborhood, church, or greater community? Today's passage in Nehemiah may challenge you to pray, research, and lead others in addressing the need.

Leaders Share the Vision

This week's devotions are written by my friend Dr. Ken Coley, Director of Ed.D. Studies and Senior Professor of Christian Education at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

- Pastor Danny

"So I said to them, 'You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins and it's gates have been burned. Come, let's rebuild Jerusalem's wall, so we will no longer be a disgrace.'"

(Nehemiah 2:17)

We began our discussion yesterday on the topic of behaviors that leaders model for their followers and observed in Nehemiah chapter one that God's leader for this moment in history was broken over the condition of Jerusalem. But rather than seek permission to leave immediately, he humbly took the matter to God in prayer.

As a result, we see in chapter two that the cupbearer is spiritually and mentally ready weeks later for the King's questions that come rapid fire: Why are you sad? What is your request? How long will you be gone? When will you return?

Nehemiah was able to respond precisely to each question and make two requests of the King: May I have letters of safe passage to show the regional governors? May I have timber from the King's Forest to use to rebuild the city gates, the city wall, and the governor's mansion? (Now that's a huge ask!) The King granted all Nehemiah's requests and included a security escort to accompany him.

Nehemiah's response: the gracious hand of my God was on me (v. 8).

Godly leaders always point to the Lord and not themselves.

Once in Jerusalem, Nehemiah delayed several days and continued his strategic planning and research. Though the text doesn't specifically say, I believe his late-night tour of the city's broken walls was a personal prayer walk around the 2.5 miles of dilapidated walls (v. 13-16). When the time came, the new leader would be prepared to present his vision for change.

In George Barna's (2009) The Power of Vision, the author states that vision is about a "preferable future." Barna describes what leaders do: leaders present to their followers what the future will look like if they join God in working for change, which will include risks and stretching. Think about this for a moment: the community leaders had been walking around and stepping over rubble for generations! Incredible... no one suggested cleaning up the mess!

In verse 17, Nehemiah paints a new picture for them: "You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned. Come, let's rebuild Jerusalem's wall, so we will no longer be a disgrace."

After casting this demanding vision, Nehemiah next pointed them to "the gracious hand of my God." Their response was, "Let's start rebuilding!" (v. 18) These community members saw the vision he was describing and trusted his leadership.

Fellow church members in our congregation a few years ago identified that many families in our surrounding area struggled to have enough to eat. They shared a vision with our congregation of serving these families by providing groceries two Saturdays a month. To do so would take numerous volunteers and the church's allocation of space, manpower, and utilities. The answer was, "Let's serve these families." Currently over 200 families or approximately 1,000 community members are provided for every other Saturday throughout the year.

Is the Lord speaking to you about brokenness or need in your neighborhood, church, or greater community? The need could be evangelistic or educational or counseling. Perhaps this passage in Nehemiah is challenging you to pray, research, and paint a picture for others to embrace and follow. Are you willing to risk, stretch, and change?