RPG Adults
A HEART FOR SERVICE (III)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 3
Nehemiah 1:4-11
Isaiah 6:1-8
“…Then said I, Here am I, send me.”
A HEART FOR SERVICE (III)
Nehemiah, as he prayed, was cognisant of God’s Word, his nature and also his circumstances and the obstacles he faced in his desire to serve God. His prayer was scriptural and personal. He considered his condition in Shushan, acknowledging God’s righteousness and their sinfulness, and presented his desire and the desires of others who sought to do something for the returnees and for Jerusalem, acknowledging the obstacles to the accomplishing of his desire.
O Lord, I beseech thee… grant him mercy in the sight of this man (Neh 1:11). We are not given the point at which Nehemiah’s care and concern changed into a conviction to do something. But we are given an insight into the conviction that he could do something also came with a realisation of how difficult it would be for him to do it. The picture given in the book of Esther concerning the dangers of angering the king and appearing before him unannounced may give us some perspective of the risk Nehemiah faced. Christian service is for the committed heart, not for the convenient one. Those who seek to do something for Jesus at their convenience often end up doing nothing. In his prayer, Nehemiah is casting all his cares upon God, and placing “his future” in God’s hand. This, on his part, was not an act of reckless abandon, but rather one of willing commitment. It is not an act of putting himself in harm’s way, and his career in danger, but rather of putting himself in God’s hand and being available to be used of God. The king might be great, but he was still a man. If God was pleased to use him, God would grant him mercy in the sight of the king, which as he prayed, he rightfully referred to as “this man.” We too live in tough times and have work and career duties and responsibilities. Like Nehemiah, challenges of our life obligations may affect our Christian service, but they ought not be used as excuses or reasons for us not to be active in Christian service. Rather they should be items for prayer, that the Lord may grant us mercy, so that, despite whatever commitments in life, we may still find opportunities to serve God and be useful and fruitful in church for Him.
THOUGHT: Though life is tough and busy, service to God is still possible for the willing in heart.
PRAYER: Father, help me find time for service amidst life’s busyness.