Lay Your Brick

This devotional was written based on a sermon about Nehemiah and the readings of the following biblical texts: Nehemiah 2:1–8; Luke 9:57–62.

Carrying our burdens 

When Nehemiah heard the report about Jerusalem’s broken walls, he was not standing in the ruins himself. He was in a secure place — serving as cupbearer to the king, enjoying influence and provision. Yet the news pierced his heart.

The walls were more than stones: they represented the safety, worship, and identity of God’s people. Nehemiah could have turned away and let someone else take responsibility. Instead, he prayed, he wept, and then he acted. He asked the king for permission, for resources, and for protection.

Nehemiah’s posture shows us that kingdom responsibility is not about convenience. It is about seeing the need, carrying the burden, and stepping forward in faith.

The call to discipleship 

Centuries later, Jesus put it plainly:

“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).

The call to follow Him is urgent. It is costly. And it demands our full attention. Jesus warned that even worldly comfort may be surrendered: “the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Luke 9:58).

We usually have this posture of “first let me…” but Jesus rejects delays that sound harmless. He is calling us to surrender all today and to take part in the urgent mission of sharing the gospel. 

Nehemiah’s story foreshadows this. He left comfort, prayed in the presence of the king, planned with boldness, and never turned back. He embodied the same resolve that Jesus demands of us as His disciples.

A personal story 

While I was preaching this sermon, I was reminded by the Holy Spirit of something that happened to me years ago. When I was serving as a missionary and church planter, I learned that kingdom work is never just theory — it comes with daily costs. 

I was living on a very short budget. At the same time, God kept sending people to me: some hungry for a meal, some needing help with groceries, others struggling with medical needs.

I tried to respond to each one, but sometimes I felt overwhelmed. I would ask myself, “Lord, how can I meet all these needs when I barely have enough myself?”

I remember one day at a shopping mall, someone came directly to me and asked for food.

I helped the person, but I couldn’t stop thinking: “Lord, why is it always me? I really needed this money for something else …”

In that moment, I heard God whisper in my heart: “Do you know why I bring these people to you? Because I know I can count on you.”

That was a turning point for me. What I saw as a burden was an honour — God trusted me enough to place those needs before me. It was His way of saying, “Here is your brick. Lay it.” And I was never in need of anything, He always provided, and He keeps taking care of me. 

Building God’s kingdom today

Nehemiah teaches us that responsibility for God’s kingdom is:

      1.    Generational — He acted not just for himself but for the future of his people. We, too, must think about what kind of faith legacy we leave for children, grandchildren, and the next generation in the church.

      2.    Prayerful — Every step was covered in prayer. True planning begins in God’s presence.

      3.    Practical — Nehemiah asked for letters, timber, and protection. Kingdom work requires both faith and wise preparation.

      4.    Dependent on God — Ultimately, success came because “the gracious hand of God” was with him (Nehemiah 2:8).

Jesus echoes the same truth: we cannot cling to comfort or delay obedience. The kingdom calls us forward now, with hands steady on the plow.

God is still looking for people He can count on. People who see the broken walls around them — in families, in the places where we live , in the lives of the hurting — and choose to lay a brick.

This week, ask yourself:

      •     Where is God asking me to take responsibility?

      •     Who has He placed in my path that needs care or encouragement?

      •     What “brick” can I lay this week — through prayer, generosity, service, or witness. 

Prayer:

Lord, give us Nehemiah’s courage and Jesus’ devotion. Teach us to carry the burdens You entrust to us, to act with faith and wisdom, and to build Your kingdom without looking back. Amen.