God is Looking for a Few Good Men
Cynde Layne Wilkerson
Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. Nehemiah 2:11-18
 
“We’re Looking for a Few Good Men” is the campaign slogan to get recruits to come in and join ranks with the Marines. And if that line doesn’t prompt you, they might get you with their infamous tag line, “The few and the proud, the Marines!”
 
The armed services, whether it be the Marines, Army, Navy, or Air Force are required to have intense training in order to become the men and women needed to be equipped for battle and made ready to become one force against the enemy. I am very impressed with the unity of the armed forces; the comradeship and the cohesiveness of these individual units; however, they are all one in their thinking, one in their motives, one in their strategy, and one in their mission. They embody the motto: once a soldier – always a soldier. And even though there are differences in administration, each soldier is working together with one purpose, one mind and on one accord. Naturally, as the people of God, we talk about how we are soldiers in the army of the Lord, Just like the natural soldier, there must be also a willingness to go into intense training to be equipped and made ready for battle. God is in need of some special forces to represent the front line because this is serious spiritual warfare. He is looking for people who are willing to work together, fully equipped to fight against the enemy (Eph 6:11-12).
 
In our passage, Nehemiah heard the wall of Jerusalem was broken down, dilapidated and the gates had burned with fire. It caused him to sit down and weep, and he mourned for days. Then he fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven on how to proceed for His people (Neh 1:4). Because of his concern for Jerusalem and its people, it was in his heart to take action. He took a few good men with him to assess the wall and when he realized what was needed he gathered the people together to let them know what he had observed. Because the wall was in such bad shape, broken down and burned, it was an open door for all kinds of things to creep into the city because there wasn’t any protection against the outside forces. With that being said, the people said let us rise up and rebuild the wall. The scripture said, and they strengthened their hands for this good work. Just like Nehemiah, God is looking for a few good men with that mindset; men and women who are willing to roll up their sleeves and get to work.
 
Nehemiah had the help of the people because they were willing to work together to get the job done. Although, they had to deal with the outside opposition, it wasn’t as devastating as the inside opposition among them. There will always be some form of hindrance but with determination and a mind to let nothing stop you , you can move forward in the purpose of God. The people of Jerusalem continued on in their work despite it all and the wall was completed in less than two months. Wouldn’t it be nice if we, as the people of God, the recruits of His army would do the same as the people of Jerusalem? Being as one; willing to work together with one purpose, one mind and be on one accord for one mission to save the city? We see the people of the world are badly in need of repair; there is moral decay and neglect and in a dilapidated state; they are hurting, broken, and in bondage and in need of hope. Are we willing to strengthen our hands to do the good work that God has called for us to do. Will we be that beacon of hope to a dying world? Isn’t that our mission as a soldier in this army?
 
I heard this song yesterday that reminded me of my childhood and was so befitting. “We are soldiers in the army, we have to fight, although we have to cry. We have to hold up the bloodstained banner, we have to hold it up until we die.”
 
God is just looking for a few good men ...
 
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
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