Coming off of Easter, two things have continued to circle through my mind— the sacrifice of the Lord and sanctification. It's all I can think about—how can I not live in gratitude knowing the work he has done for me? My job now is to live in dedication to him, glorifying him and his work in all that I do. His sacrifice forces the question: “How can I keep living casually when he gave everything for me?”

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Men…we need you.

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In Nehemiah’s time, Jerusalem was in ruins. The walls that were protecting the city were broken down, leaving the people vulnerable and exposed. God gave Nehemiah a clear assignment: rebuild the wall. It was not easy work; it was heavy labor, exhausting, and constantly opposed. 

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In this verse, Nehemiah is responding to a call from his enemies, asking him to come down and meet with them. He responds with a firm “no,” with the understanding that it was just a distraction from the current task the Lord had called him to. He says, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down.” 

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When God calls a man to do something, he doesn’t call him to a convenient route. He calls him to obedience. He calls him to discipline. God has called him to hard things and into uncomfortable situations in order to accomplish what God has set before him. 

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Convenience often disguises itself as a reasonable option. It tells you to slow down, to take a break, to step away—but calling says to stay. The building of the wall was a specific call—and maybe the easy route for Nehemiah would’ve been to stop working on it and take a pause, but there was a dedication and a choice to keep going. He chose not to come down. Nehemiah is saying, “this is what I have been called to do, therefore I will stick to it and accomplish it to the best of my ability.

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“I am doing a great work.”

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That is the mindset of a man who understands his purpose. A man who knows that what God has placed in front of him matters too much to walk away. A man willing to step into uncomfortable situations and do things outside his comfort zone to accomplish what God has called him to do. 

There is more to life than taking the easy route. Life requires full dedication and devotion to the Lord’s calling. Being disciplined for Christ gives you a purpose. “I am doing a great work,” and because of that, I will do it to the best of my ability, aligning my work with my purpose. Your purpose is a service to the Lord. Work hard to reach what God is calling you to do. His plan is the ultimate form of love and grace. Therefore, pursue his plan for you, which is his best for you.

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Men, the work matters. Your life matters. What God has called you to matters.

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So the question is not whether easier options will come, because they most certainly will. The question is: Will you stay on the wall or will you come down?

This kind of discipline is built in everyday choices. It’s formed in moments where you decide between what is easy and what is right. Take a moment to reflect:

• Where am I choosing convenience over what God is calling me to do?

• What distractions are pulling me away from the work God has given me?

• What is one area where I need to be more disciplined and committed?

• What would it look like for me this week to say, “I am doing a great work—I cannot come down?”

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Father, thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus and the purpose it gives my life. Help me to live in dedication to you, glorifying you in all that I do. Shape me into a person of discipline, not convenience. Give me the strength to stay committed to the work you've called me to, even when it's hard. Teach me not to come down from what you've placed in front of me. Let my life reflect devotion to you in everything. Amen.