Faithful, Fearing God

In “Faithful, Fearing God,” Nehemiah chose leaders who honored the Lord above all. Seek to be trustworthy, bold, and committed to His Kingdom.

“I put Hanani my brother, and Hananiah the commander of the citadel, in charge of Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many.”—Nehemiah 7:2 NASB

Armed with authority from Persia’s ruler, Nehemiah was equipped to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem. Nonetheless, he encountered strong opposition from men who mocked, insulted, and spread confusion and discouragement.

To complete rebuilding the wall, Nehemiah needed people who could persevere in the face of opposition and stand up to insults and mocking. He needed those who were trustworthy and bold, people with spiritual discernment, able to lead by example.

Hanani and Hananiah were two of these people that stood out. Hanani had a passion for God and His Kingdom. It was his testimony about the conditions in Jerusalem that inspired Nehemiah to tackle this huge project.

Hananiah could be counted on to finish his assignments and keep his word. He had the right priorities, seeking to honor God and further God’s Kingdom rather than his own. He took his commitments seriously and sought to please God in word and deed.

After the wall was rebuilt, these men were rewarded for their faithfulness by being put in charge of Jerusalem.

Today, take your commitments seriously and demonstrate your trustworthiness. Seek to please God with your words and deeds. Be strong in the Holy Spirit and ask for discernment to recognize deception. Don’t give in to discouragement but stand up to opposition. Don’t quit if you’re mocked. Ask God to give you greater boldness. Be a good example to others.

Reflection Question: How can you show faithfulness and boldness in your daily life?