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When We Make It, I Make It
When We Make It, I Make It
Can you imagine what it must have been like to be busy building a wall and then hear that the inhabitants of the land around you are about to attack? The whole purpose of having a wall is to be more ready to withstand an attack, but they are coming before the wall is completed. You’ve been working hard. You’re tired, exhausted even. You and your family are sitting ducks. If the enemy comes, the wall won’t be ready and they will overrun you.
But Nehemiah arose and said to the people: “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes” (Nehemiah 4:14, ESV). In Nehemiah 4:13, Nehemiah stationed people by their clans, with swords, spears, and bows. The enemy heard of it and left off the attack. Following that, Nehemiah divided the workers in half. Half worked on the wall, the other half stood guard. Those who were working, bore their work load with one hand and their weapon in the other.
Do you notice the subtle point of how the victory was achieved here? It took everyone. They had to work together. They were already working together on building the wall, now they are working together on defending the wall, the city, and especially their families.
What teamwork!
First, let’s think about building the wall. Each family was dealing with their own section of wall. Do you think any family wanted to be the family that built the weak part of the wall that got breached? Of course not. They all wanted to do their best in order to keep that wall intact and protect their city and their own families. Second, let’s think about the potential battle. Each man was defending not only the city, but his own family. They would have to work together to protect each other.
What a great illustration here. There is a wonderful mix of family and city here. Each family was building their section of the wall, but together they were building the city wall. Each man was protecting his family, but together they were protecting the city.
But here is the key I hope we can recognize. When the people pulled together to rebuild and protect the city, who received the benefit of protection? Each family. This makes me think of a mantra I want each and every church to make its own.
When we make it, I make it. If every individual and family in a local congregation pulls together to protect, preserve, and grow the local congregation, who gets the benefit? Every individual and family. Amazingly enough, too many times individuals think only of themselves and never think of the church. Attending assemblies is something they do because they think it is an arbitrary requirement to get themselves to heaven. That is not it at all. The reason God encourages congregations and the gathering of such (Hebrews 10:25) is this very reason. When we make it, I make it.
Do you want to make sure you are victorious in the struggle against the enemy and sin? Then make sure that we are victorious in the struggle against the enemy and sin. Do you want to make sure that you get to heaven? Then strive to make sure the brothers and sisters around you get to heaven. Do you want to make sure that you make it? Then make sure that we make it.
When we make it, I make it.
—Edwin L. Crozier
- May 11, 2014--When We Make It, I Make It.pdf (248.85 kB)
