These Are the Days of "Everyday" Watchmen

These are the days of “everday” watchmen.

Biblically, watchmen are called to:

• Detect threats that may still be far off and sound the alarm to notify the community or individuals of impending risk.

• Call people to respond in alignment with God’s word and heart, which often includes repentance, consecration, as well as strategic action that may take time, energy, teamwork and courage.

• Discern and interpret signs

• Guide and lead

• Intercede and pray

And while God used prophets like Ezekiel as watchman in his time, I believe we have much to glean from Nehemiah 3-4 to understand how God is mobilizing everyday watchmen like you and me.

Nehemiah 3 describes families rebuilding the wall next to their homes. This is both profound and practical.

Kingdom building never abandons the home. It protects it and nurtures it as the home base for kingdom expression.

Then in Nehemiah 4, they’ve experienced threats from those who do not want the city’s walls repaired. A few things happen:

Men were stationed in the most vulnerable, exposed places in the wall and families were stationed together with swords, spears and bows.

Even now, God in His goodness is exposing the vulnerabilities in our lives, families and spheres that need to be fortified in Christ. This is never a call to shame or panic, but to alignment that releases supernatural grace for courageous action, building and ultimately triumph from the inside out (from the heart to the hands to the land).

Next it says that Nehemiah saw their fear which moved him to exhort the people: “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”

Even now, God is calling us to behold Him, to remember His power and preeminence and watch/build with His nature as our focus and foundation.

Then Nehemiah does something powerful: He compels the people through love.

We know from 1 John 4:18 that perfect love casts out fear. By telling them to fight for their brothers, sons, daughters, wives and houses, he’s inciting them to be compelled by the power greater than fear: LOVE. Galatians 5:6 says that faith works by love. The faith required of us in this hour will rise through the compelling of Love, first received from the Father then flowing through us to the world around us.

It goes on to say that they went on repairing the wall with a tool in one hand and a weapon at their side.

Like them, we build what God is saying but we do it armed, watchful and determined knowing that what is required from us is our response and obedience. The battle belongs to the Lord.

I’m here to tell you this call to watch is not only for elite leaders. It’s for moms and teachers and sales people. It’s for contractors, grandfathers and artists.

The Lord is looking for first responders. Who are those who like Isaiah will say, “Here I am! Send me!”?

I’ll stand in the gap for my family.

I’ll watch over my neighborhood.

I’ll contend for that nation.

I’ll live to walk in rhythm with the heartbeat of heaven, whatever it looks like.

I won’t sit on the sidelines when there’s history to be made and souls to be awakened.

I’ll use my voice, my spiritual weapons, my art, my skills and above all my love to run to the front lines and say, “God, use me as a watchman.”

For such a time as this.