When we try to do the Lord's work ...

When Nehemiah and the leaders of Jerusalem

prepared to begin the reconstruction of the walls of Jerusalem,

their adversaries Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabians mocked and ridiculed them,

saying, "What are you doing?  Are you rebelling against the king?"

(Nehemiah 2:18-19).

Reflecting on this passage,

I realize that when we endeavor to do the Lord's work,

external adversaries may mock and ridicule us,

and even those within our community may oppose and scorn us.

When we do the Lord's work ...

When we do the Lord's work,

we must do so with goodness, justice, and truth in God's eyes

(Ref.: 2 Chronicles 31:20).