Dear Friend,

Nehemiah was an effective Christian lawyer before his time. Let me explain.

Time and again he respectfully yet boldly petitioned heaven, "Remember me," for his having helped God's oppressed people (Nehemiah 5:19), cleansed His temple (13:14), restored His Sabbath (13:22), and kept the Jews' bloodline pure (13:31). Did God answer?

Absolutely! He "remembered" Nehemiah's petitions by granting him the high honor of letting one of the sacred scrolls of Scripture bear his name and by recording his good life and deeds for posterity to ponder and practice. Clearly, then, Nehemiah, like a skilled lawyer, presented his case successfully in the court of heaven.

Nehemiah's "remember me" prayers were his practical application of the great challenge God had given through Isaiah: “Put me in remembrance; let us reason together; declare thou, that thou mayest be justified” (Isaiah 43:26). In this famous text God is saying, “Lawyer me! Make your case before my judgment seat! Present evidence proving that you qualify for my gracious assistance or rewards!” How do we do this?

Go to law school! Diligently and prayerfully study God's "law" - today the entire Bible! Search His promises. Carefully note their conditions. Review all His warnings. Examine how He fulfilled them. Continue soaking in God's law books until you're convinced, as Jesus taught, "The scriptures must be fulfilled" (Mark 14:49). But don't stop there.

Begin diligently building goodwill with the court of heaven. Every day think, speak, act, and react in such a way as to please God! "I do always those things that please him" (John 8:29). And if you fail, confess your sin and start again. Patiently develop this humble, New Testament lifestyle until you consistently walk in trust and obedience. Then you're ready to make your case.

First, approach the Judge of heaven in humility and truth. Confess all remaining faults and forgive all offenders frankly and fully, and without justifying yourself, as Nehemiah did wisely and meekly (Nehemiah 1:6-7). Second, remember three key facts: (a) you deserve nothing but judgment and, yet, (b) God has graciously forgiven you, and (c) He has directly charged you to make your case before His throne of grace. So, obediently plead the "merits of the meritless" before the only meritorious One.

As Nehemiah did, come boldly in your time of need, reciting to God what His unmerited grace has enabled you to do for His people, temple, Sabbath, and bloodline.

For instance, let Him know how you have ministered His Word and love to your brothers and sisters in Christ. Or, remind Him how you have helped serve and strengthen your local church and the worldwide body of Christ through faithful service, daily intercession, generous giving, and support of excellent ministries and missions. Or, recall how you have helped restore the Christian "Shabbat" - by leading sinners to find rest from sin and self-righteous works by faith in the Savior and by calling Christians to find soul rest by submissive, trusting obedience to Christ. Or, rehearse before the Lord how you have helped keep the Christian "bloodline" pure by loving "his righteousness" (Matthew 6:33) and living uprightly, and by faithfully speaking and working for holiness and against ungodliness. If Nehemiah were a Christian, these are the kinds of prayers he would pray.

Oh, and remember, if you're not doing these things you can't claim them! So, if the Holy Spirit convicts you of disobedience, change your ways. Then go make your case in humble obedience, confident of Jesus' promise: "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you" (John 15:7, NIV); or, "you can ask anything you want, and it will be given to you" (NCV). Doesn't this wonderful, wide inviting promise by the Author of God's law - who is also our Judge - make you want to become a Christian lawyer?

Need help from God today? Urgently? In a matter you know to be His will? Take the necessary steps to become a Nehemiah - a skilled, effective Christian lawyer. Make your case in heaven's court. It is in session now and the Judge is in a gracious mood, calling out invitingly for you to approach His bench: "Put me in remembrance!" Don't keep Him waiting.

Making my case,

Greg Hinnant
Greg Hinnant Ministries