I’m sure that all of you reading this know who Shecaniah is…or was, I should say. Right?
If you don’t know him, it’s because he is what Dale Davis in his book on Ezra calls a “minor character.”
Ezra and the people of Israel had been allowed to return to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. They were rebuilding the temple and the city’s walls. But as usual, God’s people chose to sin by intermarrying with the heathen nations around them.
Ezra was distraught as he confessed the nation’s sins to God. A large assembly of people had gathered when out of the crowd, Shecaniah stepped forward to encourage Ezra in the actions that needed to take place. He said there was hope for Israel despite their sin.
“Arise!” Shecaniah said to Ezra. “For this matter is your responsibility, but we will be with you. Be courageous and act.”
Ezra arose and acted, surely energized by Shecaniah’s timely shared wisdom.
All through scripture and history, God has used those “minor characters” to lift His discouraged servants and to accomplish His great plans.
I remember my grandma. She lived with us for 14 years. How often I would walk by her bedroom and see her sitting in front of her open Bible. Her head, covered in beautiful white hair, was bowed as she prayed for every single member of her large family.
She was what some would call a “minor character.” But her impact in our lives for Christ is major, I am sure.
Do you wonder what purpose you can serve for Christ?
It doesn’t matter who or where you are. We are never sidelined in our ability to pray, to send a card, to speak encouraging words to those around us who are struggling, to make a meal…
The possibilities are endless for us “minor characters.”
Let’s be minor characters making major differences in ways that matter most to God…not to be seen, but to be used by God for eternity.
He Said What?! 
Well said, Patty! I did not remember Shecaniah, but am inspired by his example. When we get to heaven, we may be surprised by the minor characters who receive great reward. I’m thinking your grandmother is one of them. You also, Patty for your perseverance, faith, humility, and more!
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Thank you, Nancy. I’ll be standing in line behind you, I am certain.
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What an inspiring and humbling challenge! Thank you Patty
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Thanks for reading, Pete.
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From one minor character to another-thank you for your inspiring message to let God use us for whatever His will may be. 🙂
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Thank you, my fellow minor.
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✝️😁🙏
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A great encouragement thank you ❤️
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Praise God, and thank you for reading.
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What we call minor characters, God calls his faithful servants no matter how big or small we think the task
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That’s right. I loved how Dale Davis in his book on Ezra named several of those minor characters in scripture, as we might call them, who were so greatly used by God.
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👌🏾
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Very precious reminder that: even today’s minor moments matter, to make tomorrow’s major monumental memories.
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Nothing is little in God’s eyes and shouldn’t be in ours either.
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