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Sunday, June 7: “The Essential Posture of Humility” – Nehemiah 1

New ventures stir many emotions—excitement, possibility, adventure, and also anxiety, fear, and uncertainty. While serving in exile, Nehemiah learned that although the temple had been rebuilt, Jerusalem was still vulnerable. For all its splendor, the temple remained exposed without the protection of the city walls, a painful reminder of the destruction that had led God’s people into exile. In the opening chapter, Nehemiah weeps over this reality. Yet before taking action, he humbles himself before God and acknowledges that this vulnerability is tied to the people’s own sin. His example reminds us that no matter how worthy the task, the best place to begin is on our knees, surrendering our plans and priorities to God. In that humility, Nehemiah also sees that God has positioned him to move forward and make a difference. As we begin our own building project at First, may we start with the same humility— humble and grateful for the way God uses our past and present to prepare us for the future as we lay new foundations for generations to come.