Nehemiah was known and respected for his diligence as a contractor and builder, while his contemporary, Ezra (whom we encounter in the message, “Studying Hard”) was a dedicated scribe and priest. Though their tasks were completely different, neither calling was more important or holy. Nehemiah needed Ezra to stay devoted and faithful as he served the Lord as a scribe and as a priest. Ezra needed Nehemiah to stay diligent and determined, committed to his calling of rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. How easy it is for us to think of Ezra’s calling as “sacred” and Nehemiah’s as “secular.” How foolish! It is impressive to witness how seriously each man took his God-given responsibility. Let’s look at Nehemiah’s example now.

Nehemiah 1:1-4, 2:1-18, 6:15-16

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