The day for the dedication of the newly completed rebuilt walls of the city had finally come. It must have been an exceptional celebration with the two processions of the civic leaders and the Temple musicians encircling the city walls. They converged on the Temple where festivities continued with sacrifices and singing.

The high point of the spiritual restoration that Nehemiah brought about was the people’s commitment to obey the LORD’s commands in chapters 9-10, preceded by the reading of the Law in chapter 8. At that point, the people were back on the right track in doing the things that God required.

Surely there is wisdom in looking at the bright side of things, of accentuating the positive in our lives and speaking well of the situations in which we find ourselves. The apostle Paul suggests this in various ones of his letters and even in the earlier parts of this second letter to Timothy. (See 2:1-2)

Having looked squarely at the characteristics of those who are opposed to the gospel and to everything that is good, Paul now urges Timothy to consider three important truths. All of these come out of Timothy’s past experience and push him to re-examine both the reason and the purpose of his present ministry.

Having been a minister myself I recognize how easily discouragement can set in. Who do you talk to about your spiritual walk when people look to you as the one who provides spiritual encouragement to others? Who is there to lift you up?

Jesus, always the consummate storyteller, once told a tale about two builders, one wise and one foolish. The first chose to construct his home on a solid base; when a violent storm came, the house was not shaken. The second built on shifting sand. The foundation crumbled and the storm decimated his home.

Years ago my husband learned to wind surf. The instructor spoke for twenty minutes. Most of the people that surrounded the instructor had no patience to listen. They wanted to get out there and just do it. My husband is the patient sort. He listened, then went out and sailed like an expert. I watched as the others fell constantly off their boards into the lake.