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| image by Shafman |
At the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference in Ridgecrest, NC, Author Eva Marie Everson related our jobs as writers to Nehemiah’s job.
Nehemiah’s Job
Nehemiah, the cupbearer to the king wept and mourned. The wall surrounding the city in Jerusalem was broken down and the gates were burned. Nehemiah fasted and prayed, lamenting the Israelites unfaithfulness that brought about this destruction.
King Artaxerxes asked Nehemiah about his “sorrow of heart.” The king sent Nehemiah to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall.
Nehemiah rallied his brethren there, and they “set their hands to this good work.” Nehemiah lists 42 groups of people, who, one group next to the other, rebuilt sections of the wall.
They fought their enemies, but returned to the wall, “everyone to his own work … with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon.” When enemies wanted to meet with Nehemiah, he said, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down.” Nehemiah’s workers repaired all the walls and gates. (Quotes from NKJV)
Writer’s Job
Eva Marie Everson had us (400 writers) line up around the perimeter of the large conference room. I paraphrase what I heard her telling us: “The Church is a mess. We writers need to take our place on the wall and help rebuild the Church through our works. We are not to work on someone else’s section, but ‘everyone to his own work.’”
Standing next to writers on my left and right and viewing our huge wall of writers, I wanted to work on my tiny section of rebuilding the Church through my writing, teaching, and speaking.
Cupbearers to the King
Eva Marie emphasized this quote from Nehemiah, “I was the cupbearer to the king.” This particularly struck me. Aren’t we all cupbearers to the King?
What do we bring to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in our cups?
- • Complaints about how things are going for us?
- • Our earthy desires?
- • Grudges against God’s ways?
- • Deformed, blighted fruit because we’re working on what we want to do?
- • Unrepented sins?
Wouldn’t wine made from these ingredients taste harshly sour and bitter to our King?
Or, are the cups we bear to our King overflowing with:
- • Praise, worship, and giving glory?
- • Fruit from the “talents” He gave us to increase and heal his Church?
- • Fruit of the Spirit – kindness, goodness, patience, joy, peace, love, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control?
- • Intercessory prayers?
- • Our continuous commitment to the King and His commands?
Wouldn’t wine made from these ingredients taste delightfully sweet and zesty to our King?
I believe that as we seek and obey our King, He equips us with courage, boldness, confidence, humility, and wisdom. With these driving us, we can fill the cup we bear with good wine—our hard, God-directed work in serving His Church.
As a cupbearer to the King, with what will you fill the cup you deliver to the King?
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| About the Author |
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| Zoe M. McCarthy |
Learn more about Zoe M. McCarthy at her website: http://zoemmccarthy.com
Calculated Risk
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| Calculated Risk by Zoe M. McCarthy |
What happens when an analytical numbers man meets a mercurial marketing Rep? Romance is a calculated risk…
Jilted by the latest of her father’s choices of “real men,” Cisney Baldwin rashly accepts an invitation to spend Thanksgiving weekend with a sympathetic colleague and his family. Nick LeCrone is a man too much her opposite to interest her and too mild-mannered to make her overbearing father’s “list.” Now, Cisney fears Nick wants to take advantage of her vulnerable state over the holiday. Boy, is she wrong.
Nick wants little to do with Cisney. She drives him crazy with all her sticky notes and quirks. He extended an invitation because he felt sorry for her. Now he’s stuck, and to make matters worse, his family thinks she’s his perfect match. He’ll do what he can to keep his distance, but there’s just one problem—he’s starting to believe Cisney’s magnetism is stronger than he can resist.
Purchase links for Calculated Risk: http://zoemmccarthy.com/books
