Invitation to Blessing
Words of Faith 6-8-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Nehemiah, cupbearer to the King of Persia, was grieved to hear that Jerusalem was defenseless with broken walls. He prayed and was moved to ask the King for permission to rebuild the walls. The King granted permission— today, Nehemiah asks for more...

Nehemiah 2
[7] I also said to him, "If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? [8] And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king's forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?" And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. [9] So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king's letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me. [10] But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.

I can't help but wonder if a great big grin didn't break out on Nehemiah's face when the King gave permission for him to go to Jerusalem. I know I would have headed out of the room, clicking my heels in the air, but Nehemiah was a practical sort of guy and a good planner. Permission was not enough. He asked for visas, travel arrangements, supplies, and a military escort! His boldness can teach us a lot. When you are called by God to a task, it makes sense to ask! If the task is truly of God, God will supply. The book of James says we have not because we ask not.

Living by faith should not be confused with poor planning. God will provide— but sometimes the provision is as close as a humble request. Someone said to me recently, "It's not who you know— it's who knows you." Nehemiah was known by the King. The King had influence, wealth, and provision. Certainly, God would have provided in some way had the King refused, but through Nehemiah, God gave the King an opportunity to be used. Surely it was a blessing in the King's life.

Anytime we invite people to be a part of the work of God, we are not asking for a blessing so much as we are offering one. Over the years of ministry, hundreds of people have thanked me for inviting them to be involved in God's work. How often do people agree to teach a Sunday School class or visit a shut-in, thinking they will be a blessing, only to discover that they are the ones most greatly blessed? Every mission trip I have ever been on has been a blessing I could never have imagined.

Is there something God has shown you that is undone? You could just do it yourself and sacrifice a little more to give what is needed. Or... you could ask. You could invite someone to go with you, to share the cost, or simply to join you in service. They may appear to join in reluctantly, thinking that they will sacrifice and be a blessing to others. But we know, don't we? They will soon be thanking you for the blessing. Why not invite someone to be a blessing today? You may not know a king, but you probably know someone who would be blessed to serve the King of kings.

Lord, help me look beyond the details today. Help me to see Your larger plan. Show me who You would like to invite to be a part of Your work. Let me be a blessing today. Help me to invite others to share in the blessing of serving. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2025
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2025 Jeffrey D. Hoy.