Nehemiah 1:5–11 ‘I was cupbearer to the king.’ (v11b)
Have you ever read the Bible and considered what part of the story you resonate with. People often place themselves in the position of the hero of the story.
They are David not Goliath, they are Paul not Saul, they are Esther or Mordecai but definitely not Haman, they are Joseph but never one of his many brothers.
However, the reality does not work like that. We cannot all be royalty, prime minister, CEO, pastor or headteacher.
In this story of Nehemiah, he places himself uncomfortably as a servant, a cupbearer to the king.
The role required him to sip the wine before the king drank of it, just in case it had been poisoned.
If Nehemiah died, that was a risk the king was willing to make, and he would simply appoint another cupbearer.
Nehemiah was not just a servant, he was expendable. We assume that only ‘important’ people can make a change.
That most of us are powerless and have nothing to offer. All we can do is stand in the vicinity of important people and be useful by holding their cup.
Through storytelling, movies, books and art we are repeatedly told the message that you have to be special to make a difference. But that is not the story of Nehemiah.
He was an expendable servant about to change the mind of a king and the trajectory of his people.
Have you ever assumed you are unable to bring change because of the part you play in life?
A Prayer To Make:
‘Lord, sorry when I have assumed that I have nothing to offer to those around me due to my assumed status in life. Help me to see the need around me and to be led by your Spirit afresh. Amen.’
An Action To Take:
Consider the part you play in life. How do you describe it to others… ‘I just do this’ or ‘I just do that’? Maybe God placed you and gifted you to have greater influence than you realise.
Scripture To Consider:
Isa. 61:1–2; Matt. 23:11–12; Phil. 2:5–7; 1 Pet. 4:10
