Our Scripture reading today is Nehemiah 2:17-18.
Verse 18, "Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work."
Nehemiah was on a mission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. This mission began when he heard about the condition of the city in chapter 1. The need was fully known to Nehemiah after he saw with his own eyes the devastation. (Chapter 2:11-15) Wall re-building would require many labourers and much materials. Nehemiah makes it clear that not only had the king given them his blessing but the hand of almighty God was on them as well. This brought greater security than anything else.
Every day that we live, there is a specific work for us to do. God has saved us to live for His glory. Part of our task will involve helping to build and rebuild lives. This could our own lives. The key is to recognize we are incapable of building or rebuilding in our own strength. Like Nehemiah, we need the hand of God to be on our lives. Anything and everything good we accomplish will be by the hand of God. Ecclesiastes 2:24, "There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God."