“So I knew they were scheming to hurt me, so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come down.” “Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?”
Nehemiah 6:3 NLT
Great athletes have the ability to have great focus. They are disciplined. They don’t get distracted. They don’t get sidetracked. They remain steadfast on the mission and task in front of them. They realize the ‘good’ is the enemy of the ‘best.’ They have the discipline to say ‘No’ to some good things, so they can say ‘Yes’ to the best things. The same characteristics are true in great leaders.Nehemiah was that kind of leader!You see, Nehemiah refused to get sidetracked. He refused to get distracted. He rebuilt the wall in 52 days and nothing was going to get him off focus from accomplishing what God had called and commanded him to do. Nehemiah knew the schemes of his enemies. He knew they wanted to hurt him and the work of rebuilding the wall. However, Nehemiah was wise as a snake and gentle as a dove. He knew his mission. He knew what God had called and commanded him to do, and nothing or no one was going to distract him from being obedient to the Lord.How about you? Are you easily distracted? Have you allowed the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, or the lust of other things to distract you from doing what God has commanded you to do? Listen closely, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, a disciple, and born again Christian, God has ‘commanded’ you and called you to “Go and Make Disciples!” (Matt 28:19-20). It is not up for debate. It is not an option. It is not the “Great Suggestion”— it is the “Great Commission.” This is not the time to be distracted. Because your enemy, the devil, has one goal—and that is to keep you from the very thing God has commanded you to do. And if he can’t make you bad—he will just make you busy.Like Nehemiah, say NO! Stay focused on the mission. Don’t “come down off the wall.” Say NO to some good things—so that you can say YES to the best thing! Time is short and eternity is long, and the lives of your friends, family members and co-workers are hanging in the balance.“Go, and Make Disciples!”(Matthew 28:19-20)Love God! Love People! Live Sent!Be Worth Being,KevinSUBSCRIBE TO "OVER THE HUMP" DEVOTIONALKevin Burrell has worked in professional baseball as both a player and MLB scout for the past 40 years, and currently serves as an area scouting supervisor. Kevin was drafted in the 1st round of the 1981 free agent amateur draft (25th selection overall), and played ten years of professional baseball with four different organizations. He and his wife, Valerie, live in Sharpsburg, Ga.
Imagine that you could sit down and pick the brains of some of the top leaders in the country! That's the premise behind the Linch with a Leader podcast. Learn how these leaders - all among the best in their respective field - have risen to the top, while continuing to grow spiritually and chase after the Lord.
