DCLM Daily Manna 2025: DCLM Daily Manna 22 January 2025: Undaunted By Opposition
Text: Nehemiah 2:9-11 (KJV)
9 Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.
10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
KEY VERSE: Nehemiah 2:10
“When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.”
Modern rail transport debuted in England in the 19th century but only after overcoming stiff resistance from many quarters. The British Parliament, the aristocracy, farmers, landowners, and already established waterway companies all had objections emanating from their varying vested interests. Protagonists of the railroad somehow managed to prevail, and now urban mass rapid rail transit has become a permanent feature of most modern transport systems. It is unimaginable to think of a mega-city without one.
Our Bible passage today accounts for resilience’s power over unrelenting opposition. Israel had been in captivity for many generations, and their beloved city, Jerusalem, was left in ruins. Then Nehemiah showed up to rebuild the city, a quest that provoked the ire of those who would prefer that Israel remained in perpetual slavery and her cities in permanent ruins. The opposition was fierce and multi-faceted, but Nehemiah remained steadfast and prevailed. It takes a man with an iron-cast stomach to withstand the heat of persecution from the proverbial iron furnace.
Quitting is the easiest option for most people; when faced with opposition from detractors, they chicken out and give up their dreams. But then, champions are known by what obstacles they have surmounted more than by what they have achieved. Mediocrity is often clothed in the quitter’s garment rather than in nature’s limitation. When you turn tail and run, you increase your chances of failure next time. Still, when you face the obstacle with courage and faith, your spiritual muscles are trained and toned up for better performances. Those who toe the line of least resistance must be content to end up with the most negligible results. Nehemiah chose to run the gauntlet, thereby sealing his place among the faith heroes.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
The best way to face opposition is to take your position.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Exodus 20-22
Daily Manna 22 January 2025
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