Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

January 27
Wednesday


THE FIRST
ENGLISH
SAMURAI

READ:
NEH. 1:11-2
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For I was the king's
cupbearer.
__Nehemiah 1:11
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William Adams (1564-1620) is believed to be the first Englishman to reach Japan. Taking a liking to Adams, the ruling Japanese shogun made him his interpreter and personal advisor concerning the Western powers. Eventually, Adams was presented with two swords with rank of a Samurai. This showed just how much the Japanese revered Adams. Because William Adams served his foreign king well, he was also rewarded with greater opportunity for influence.

Centuries earlier, another man in a foreign county also had great influence over his king. Nehemiah was a cupbearer to Persian King Artaxerxes (Neh. 1:11). In the royal court, the cupbearer would test the wine before it was given to the king to protect him from poisoning. But this position also meant he had the king's ear as a trusted advisor. Nehemiah's integrity, administrative gifts, and wisdom made him a confidant to his ruler, which paved the way for the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.

Like Nehemiah, each of us has been given a unique sphere of influence. Raising children, church or community work, and employment all provide a platform where we can have a beneficial effect on others. Has the Lord placed someone in your life upon whom you can have an influence? __Dennis Fisher
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````````````````````When we live with integrity,``````````````````
````````````````````We please our God above```````````````````
``````````````````````And influence society`````````````````````
````````````````With truthfulness and love. __Sper````````````````
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Even a little example can be a big influence for Christ.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ Nehemiah 1:11-25**********

11 "O Lord, I pray, please
let Your ear be attentive to
the prayer of your servant,
and to the prayer of Your
servants who desire to fear
Your name; and let Your
servant prosper this day, I
pray, and grant him mercy
in the sight of this man."

For I was the king's
cupbearer.


1 And it came to pass in
the month of Nisan, in the
twentieth year of King
Artaxerxes, when wine was
before him, that I took the
wine and gave it to the
king. Now I had never been
sad in his presence before.

2 Therefore the king said to
me, "Why is your face sad,
since you are not sick? this
is nothing but sorrow of
heart."

So I became dreadfully
afraid, 3 and said to the
king, "May the king live
forever! Why should my
face not be sad, when the
city, the place of my
fathers' tombs, lies waste,
and its gates are burned
with fire?"

4 Then the king said to me,
"What do you request?"

So I prayed to the God of
heaven. 5 And I said to the
king, "If it pleases the king,
and if your servant has
found favor in your sight, I
ask that you send me to
Judah, to the city of my
fathers tombs, that I may
rebuild it."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Scripture does not tell us much about who Nehemiah was, except
that he was the personal cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes
(Ne. 1:11; 2:1). That a pagan king of a world power trusted
Nehemiah to be his adviser and to protect him from danger gives s
an indication of Nehemiah's character, his integrity, his abilities, and
his influence. __SIM KAY TEE