see all the people

BY Jessi Connolly

{Now begins the re-instruction period mentioned in the introduction.}

Text: Nehemiah 6:15-7:72, Ephesians 4:16

Remember that rhyme from childhood – “Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors, and see all the people”?

This work is done! The wall is finished. So what does Nehemiah do? He gathered the people that they might be “reckoned by genealogy” (ESV). He takes count, he notices. He lists those exiled, the people who had been forgotten by the world and seen as abandoned by God. He lists every good and perfect gift that God has seen and purposed and used to protect and rebuild the city. If this portion of Nehemiah is about re-instructing, I think it is so incredibly significant that it starts with naming people, seeing them.

Ephesians 4 tells us that when we are working properly together, the body of believers grows and builds itself up. THIS is re-instructing we probably all need to do – this work of turning inward to our respective communities and seeing one another the way the Lord sees us, as good gifts that are needed and valuable and working together in a way that brings Him glory and is for the good of us all.

Notice what Nehemiah says about the city size as compared to the people’s size: The city is wide and large, but the people are few. I don’t think it was a jab at the people, that’s not Nehemiah’s style. I think it was more to say, Look what this smallish group of people has accomplished on a massive and large scale. Look what they’ve done. Look what you’ve done.

There is such beauty being lost in a team, in a people. There is such grace in stopping to see the people around you, thanking God for them, and moving forward – together.

Father, help us to see one another, covered in the blood of Jesus, as you see us – joints equipped for their individual works that help the whole body function and grow the way it was created to. Amen.