“8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear[a] and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, ‘This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.10 Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’” NIV

Hearing, reading, studying God’s Word does not always result in joy. Sometimes it causes you to mourn; it leads to conviction of sin. It seems that’s what happened here. But ‘’Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret…’’ (2 Corinthians 7:10a). So such ‘’sorrow’’ should not linger, but may be quickly replaced by joy. That is the spirit of the message here. ‘’Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted’’ (Matthew 5:4)

Notice how Ezra, Nehemiah and the Levites worked as a team to get God’s Word to the people. This was not a personality-driven ministry. No-one was above another. The pulled together in the cause of God. Certainly in the case of Ezra and Nehemiah, they were two big characters, but there’s not a whiff of friction or competition between them.For effective team ministry to take place a stake must be driven through the heart of egoism.

PRAYER: Lord, may we never lose sight of the fact that we all need each other, and we are stronger together.