The Snare of Distraction
Words of Faith 7-6-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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CONTEXT OF THESE DEVOTIONS: The book of Nehemiah tells the story of a leader who heard of the great need in Jerusalem and responded to God's call by rebuilding the city's walls to make it safe. Most of the people of Israel were taken away into exile in Babylon in 586 BC. This was allowed as a punishment from God because Israel had worshiped idols and had been unjust to the poor. The exile began with the terrible defeat and devastating destruction of Jerusalem. The fabulous Temple of Solomon was destroyed and looted by the Babylonians, and the city was leveled. Finally, the period of punishment ended, and groups of Jews returned to Jerusalem and began rebuilding the Temple in about 538 BC. But Jerusalem remained weak and unprotected with the walls in ruin for nearly 100 years. Nehemiah heard this and prayed earnestly. As the cupbearer for the King in Persia, who had conquered Babylon, he heard from God and obeyed.
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Nehemiah 6
[1] When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it– though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates– [2] Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: "Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono."
But they were scheming to harm me; [3] so I sent messengers to them with this reply: "I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?" [4] Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.

Dr. Gavin de Becker is a Los Angeles security advisor who is widely regarded as the nation's leading expert on stalking. In his extensive study of stalkers and associated violence, he notes that a stalker will often pose as a "friend" as a way to distract his victim and take advantage of his or her natural politeness. But this "friend" is, in fact, an enemy. Nehemiah knew that same truth.

The enemies of Nehemiah used the same ploy. The wall around Jerusalem was nearing completion, but the gates were not in place. A failure at this point would render all the work thus far useless. The enemy's ploy took the form of a distraction. A message came: "Let's meet together as friends in a neutral place."But Nehemiah was too wise. He knew that he had a task directed by God, and so he refused. He refused to be distracted.

Someone once said that if the enemy cannot cause you to fall, then he will settle to distract you. He may try to befriend you. He may compliment you or flatter you. He may attempt to set up a meeting. He might invite you to a "neutral location."But the truth? There is no negotiation with the enemy of our Lord. There is no friendship to be had with that enemy. There is no meeting place that is safe. There is no "neutral location" for a conversation.

If you think about it, relatively few ministries actually fall to the "big sins"; we just hear a lot about those that do. The ministries that fall are weakening when they "drift" because of distractions. It is so easy for people, churches, denominations, and mission groups to become distracted and forget what the first calling was all about. It is easy to neglect the important mission of keeping the main thing the main thing. For Nehemiah, the main thing was building the wall and providing security for God's people. He would not be distracted.

Distractions come in all shapes and sizes. It is often noted that the biggest distractions are not the bad things… but rather the “good things” that are not the best thing. It is difficult to set aside the many good things that might distract us from the best thing.

How about you? What is the main thing God has called you to do? What is the best thing that He has set before you? Any distractions? Have you drifted from your first love? Has the world been trying to make friends with you at a "neutral location"? Decide right now. Refuse to be distracted.

Lord Jesus, give me grace to keep my eye on You and my heart on the task You have called me to do. Give me wisdom to see the distractions and courage to set them aside. In the Name of Jesus, 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.