210 million orphans in the world. {source}
2.5 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking. {source}
19 million Americans live in extreme poverty. {source}
925 million people are hungry in the world today. {source}
Statistics can be overwhelming. When we consider how big the problems facing our world, our nation, our communities are, it’s easy to want to hole up in our own homes and protect ourselves from such harsh realities.
It’s easy … but it’s not right.
One of my favorite passages of Scripture is Nehemiah 3. Nehemiah had received permission to rebuild the wall surrounding Jerusalem. It was a huge task and undoubtedly overwhelming to the people of the city, which is why it had been left undone. The idea of rebuilding the WHOLE wall was too much for any one person to consider. But Nehemiah had another plan:
Then Eliashib the high priest rose up his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate … next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built. … Next to them Uzziel the son of Harahiah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, repaired …Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate …
from Nehemiah 3
All of chapter 3 recounts how various people rebuilt a small portion of the wall. From priests to perfumers, they worked together to repair. Most of the people listed were not stone cutters, they were just ordinary people who took part in an extraordinary task.
Isn’t that what God calls each of us to do as well?
We are invited to take our ordinary, day-to-day lives and join His extraordinary plan to offer redemption, restoration, to the world around us.
Avodah is about working and serving others as our worship of God. Whether we’re making dinner for little ones or managing an international company, we are living examples of rebuilding the wall.
What part of the wall has God placed in front of you? How will join His call to rebuild?
Next week, we’ll look at some specific ways we can engage our community and involve ourselves in the lives of those around us.
About Teri Lynne Underwood
It IS overwhelming when we look at the whole wall, but God has called us to look at the stones we can add to it. I love this post, Teri, and I look forward to reading more about how we can do just that.
Thank you, Michelle. When just look at the sections of the wall right in front of us, it suddenly becomes far less intimidating, doesn’t it?