[Hezekiah] opened the doors of the temple of the Lord and repaired them. He brought in the priests and the Levites. (2 Chron. 29:3–4)
Expanded Passage: 2 Chronicles 29:3-7
After my husband and I had lived in Ecuador as missionaries for a while, I was asked to do a hard thing by the leadership of the organization with which we served. The missionaries I worked alongside were to begin turning over their jobs and functions to the local leaders and staff, and I needed to work with them to get that task done. Discussions began with deep pain and anger and centered on the inevitable changes and challenges.
Those days were hard, because the missionaries had invested so much of themselves into the work and were uncertain that it would continue. We brought in some of the Ecuadorians we had worked alongside and discovered it was important that they continue what had meaning to them. As we wrestled with these painful decisions together, and sought God together, we began to see that it was not the work that was important, but rather the people and their pursuit of God. Despite the painful changes, the work moved forward.
Hezekiah started the needed work on the temple. He opened the doors and repaired them for people to enter and worship. But for worship to continue, he brought in leaders charged with continuing in their spiritual leadership roles. He reminded and allowed them to acknowledge the past, but challenged them with what needed to happen for people to worship God.
Encourage and build other leaders to continue God’s work.
Sandy Emmett is the director of care for Global Partners of The Wesleyan Church. She enjoys riding bicycles, hiking, walking her dogs, playing with her grandchildren, and reading a good book.
© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
