SATURDAY February 4, 2017
Aligned with God’s Purposes
It came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushanthe citadel, that Hanani one of my brethren came with men from Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. - Nehemiah 1:1-2
This was the third time the children of Israel had returned back from captivity and resituated themselves in Jerusalem. In the book of Ezra we read how they began to rebuild the temple and fortify the city. But even then, the people were still not completely in submission to the will of God.
However, Nehemiah like Ezra was a man in complete submission to the will of God. He immediately and quickly aligned himself with the Lord’s purposes––he did not waste any time. Even though Nehemiah had not been to Jerusalem to see with his own eyes the situation in the city, he knew God had called him to the task of rebuilding the city’s walls.
When we do not align ourselves with God’s purposes nothing will get accomplished. This is never God’s fault; any failure is due to a man’s disobedience, by not aligning themselves with the Lord’s purposes. Yet, God never loses out––we lose out on what God had intended to do through our lives. God always finds another man or a woman to use. He will wait until that person becomes obedient to His call.
I often remind people about the elderly sitting in rest homes today. They know God, but in their minds they struggle with the knowledge, that they never accomplished the purposes of God. Think about yourselves, if that was you, when you get old, just sitting in a rest home. What if you did not accomplish what God had called you to do? Sadly, you will suffer a lot of guilt and regret, knowing God could have tremendously blessed you as He used your life. Why not align yourself with the purposes of God today?
I delight to do Your will, O my God,
and Your law is within my heart.
~Psalm 40:8~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!